Chapter 39: The Treaty of Paris

Today, Lee Beomyun, who had become the Minister of State Affairs, called for me.

“Minister of State Affairs, sir. Did you call for me?”

“I suddenly took the position of Minister of State Affairs, but it’s a bit uncomfortable.”

There’s nothing uncomfortable about it. It’s a position I deserve.

‘My achievements are also Lee Beomyun’s achievements, aren’t they?’

“Politics is always like that. But, right now, there’s no one more qualified than you, sir.”

‘I don’t know about other things, but there’s truly no one like Lee Beomyun right now.’

‘Who saved the country?’

‘Was it the Korean Empire military that served as the British and Japanese lackeys?’ Of course, there were circumstances, but the subjects of the empire only believe what they can see.

This time, it was the Sapo Regiment that was integrated into the Manchurian Army.

Although Manchuria is technically Russian territory, right now, the Jiandao area is almost like Southern Manchuria, and since I, Count Ok, have influence in Shenyang, it was practically integrated into the Manchurian Army.

And although I did most of it, the commander-in-chief was still Lee Beomyun, and it was basically Lee Beomyun who saved the country.

“So, what should we do moving forward?”

Looking at the Great Empire, it’s easy to tell.

First of all, since we need to cut off the hands and feet of the current regime, we should start with the military.

Now, the Sapo Regiment has the upper hand, so this is a good opportunity.

“We need to reform the military.”

“The military is already modernizing, isn’t it?”

It seems that Lee Beomyun still doesn’t understand the seriousness of the situation.

“It’s not just about modernization. Right now, the Korean military is divided in half.”

According to the Great Empire, the military is divided in half.

In Japan, the army and navy are split, but in Korea, the army itself is split.

Japan may have an army and navy, but Korea only has a split army.

The faction of the current regime is probably aligned with the conservatives.

But we can’t just wipe them all out.

We need to sever their hands and feet and make it clear who’s in charge.

Fortunately, Emperor Sunjong is also under our influence, and foreign countries are watching me closely.

I doubt the current cabinet enjoys any favor from foreign powers.

After all, they still have a monarchist approach and are conservative toward foreign countries.

Of course, with society changing rapidly, the current regime may try to change the country someday, but if they take power, it will be too late.

We must act now, while we have control.

“There are probably many officers in the Korean Empire military who were influenced by Japan and England. We should reform the military now and assign Sapo Regiment officers to key positions, so that military power is entirely in the hands of the Sapo Regiment.”

“Although we won the battle, the Korean Empire military, having been allied with Britain and Japan for several years, would have been influenced by them.”

“We can’t rule out the possibility of some pro-Japanese sentiments. Of course, they’re not traitors, but they can’t be left as they are. It’s better to fill those positions with our own people.”

“Once the country is stabilized, I plan to introduce women’s suffrage and other reforms.”

“Suddenly, you bring this up?”

‘Women’s suffrage is something that only comes about during a provisional government, right?’

They started from nothing, after all.

“Jinseo, you’re good at everything else, but you’re still a woman. At the very least, you should raise the status of women’s rights for your own benefit.”

‘If this continues, will I eventually become the object of worship for feminists, with the phrase, “Women will change the world!” resonating in many ways?’

“Since you have the vision, it’s best to rise step by step.”

“Sir, what do you mean by that?”

“At the very least, if I want to make you my successor, you’ll need to do that much, won’t you? Fortunately, the Sapo Regiment has control over Seoul, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“You want to make me the prime minister?”

“I’m not particularly aiming for that position. Sure, the country unified in a way through the war, but the integration of the Han, Manchu, and Korean peoples in the Jiandao region is not complete yet.”

“I plan to unite them all. If I become the prime minister, it’ll probably be much later. My base of power is now in the Jiandao and southern Manchuria.”

“Well, I’m not interested in the prime minister position.”

“But, with everything you’ve done up until now, look at this. Your father passed this to me. Now that you can protect yourself, I’m giving this to you.”

Lee Beomyun suddenly handed me a bundle.

When I unwrapped it, there were various accessories, a large seal, and a book.

“What is this? A family register? Is it from my uncle’s side?”

“Look at it carefully. It seems that it’s not just an ordinary family register, given how old it looks.”

It had the names of famous figures like Emperor Tang’s Xuanzong, Wang Geon, and King Gongmin—suggesting that I was a descendant of them.

Looking further down, it even traced back to the royal family of the Goryeo dynasty, where King Gongmin and Princess Noguk were my ancestors.

This means that I am a descendant of King Gongmin and Princess Noguk.

The presence of Emperor Tang’s Xuanzong or Emperor Tang’s Xianzhong in the family tree was likely manipulated to emphasize the nobility of Wang Geon’s bloodline.

The problem is that this family tree is linked to me.

The fact that it’s in Ok Jinseo’s family tree means that Ok Jinseo is one of their descendants.

“So, are you telling me I am a descendant of the former royal family?”

“I don’t know if you’re really from the former royal family or if it’s just a family that holds the royal family’s lineage, but your family, during King U’s time, changed their surname, and today, they are a merchant family.”

Even so, I don’t understand why he’s giving this to me.

‘Logically, does this even make sense?’

‘If I’m going to be of royal descent, wouldn’t it be better to become a member of the royal family of this country?’

‘Maybe the old man was just trying to make a move.’

‘He promised to give me noble bloodlines.’

‘It seems like he was trying to manipulate me.’

‘If that’s the case, it would have been better to make me a royal of this country.’

‘Rebuilding Goryeo would be more plausible in this day and age if I were a man.’

‘What exactly is he trying to say?’

“I don’t really understand. Why are you telling me this?”

“I think you should know your roots.”

“Ah, so you want me to figure things out myself.”

“I’m a descendant of Wang Geon, after all.”

“Doesn’t that mean I should rise to a high position?”

“Or is he telling me to take revenge for King Gongmin?”

“The fact is, now that the imperial authority is at its lowest point and the people support the Sapo Regiment, this is a double-edged sword.”

“Even if I use this family tree later, it’s not the time right now.”

“I’ll keep the family tree, but I won’t obsess over the bloodline.”

“For that reason, I hope you’ll marry.”

“If I marry, as a descendant of the former royal family, it wouldn’t be beneficial for me. If I marry, I can’t do the things I want to do right now.”

I nodded and left the office.

If getting married once could suddenly make the country a great power and I could live as a member of the Fire Tribe, I would do it several times, but for now, I have no intention of marrying.

***

Paris, France

In the original history, the peace treaty between Russia and Japan, which was known as the Treaty of Portsmouth, was actually signed in Paris, France.

It was decided to hold the treaty in Paris at the strong request of the victorious Russia.

France, too, accepted the treaty in Paris due to their interest in Japan’s barbaric actions and the curiosity regarding Count Ok.

At this venue, Japan’s plenipotentiary, Komura Jutaro, was in a dire situation.

“This is a cruel act!”

The unreasonable peace proposal from Russia.

This treaty was not just a loss for Japan but an agreement that would utterly ruin the empire.

“What’s so cruel about it?”

“Our Imperial Army… our Imperial Army did not lose!”

Komura Jutaro felt like walking out of the negotiations immediately.

If this treaty were signed, it would be no different than the Qing Dynasty’s fate.

The restoration of the Empire was not only collapsing, but as an individual, Komura Jutaro would also end up like Derauchi, being ‘harakiri’d’.

That damn Ito Hirobumi Chairman had brought an absurd unilateral peace proposal and sent Komura as a plenipotentiary representative with orders to commit seppuku.

‘Damn old man!’

Even though this alone made such negotiations unacceptable, that damn Korean plenipotentiary representative was too busy mocking the glorious Empire.

“Ah, are you talking about the miserable wandering souls in Manchuria?”

“!!”

“You must admit the truth. Over 400,000 Japanese soldiers have turned into ghosts in Manchuria, and you still want to keep insisting on war?”

Until now, the Korean Empire, which had been dragged around by Japan, had even begun to mock the Japanese representative.

The country was destroyed after exhausting everything, including their souls—what a ridiculous thing it was.

Sergei Witte, the plenipotentiary ambassador of the Russian Empire, was quietly watching the verbal battle between the two countries.

In this treaty, the Korean Empire had to be at least recognized as a friendly nation, because of Ok Jinseo.

“Korea was originally our ally. Even if we lost the war, we should lose together, but how can Korea be considered a victorious nation like Russia?”

Komura Jutaro decided to drag Korea into this.

He was using the “drowned ghost” strategy to exclude Korea from the negotiations.

However, the plenipotentiary representative Min Yeonghwan had no intention of backing down at all.

“What foolish country would form an alliance with the country that assassinated its emperor? Not only did they seize another nation’s capital and burn down its palace, but didn’t they also threaten our Crown Prince? If our soldiers had assassinated the Emperor of Japan, would you have stood by and done nothing?”

“Your words are too harsh!”

“I’m not being harsh; I’m stating the truth! Right now, 20,000 of our soldiers are in the homeland of the Japanese Empire with the Arasa forces. The soldiers who know of the assassination of our Emperor are wreaking havoc on your homeland. What do you think their goal is?”

At those words, Komura Jutaro’s face turned pale.

Now, the Empire had no proper defensive forces.

The proof of that was the Korean-Russian combined forces sweeping through the area, and if they wanted revenge for their Emperor, it was the end.

Even a foolish king could be considered a parent to Joseon.

The possibility was very real.

“Is the plenipotentiary representative of Korea here to negotiate, or to threaten our Japanese Empire?”

“Are you going to treat those who assassinated the Emperor and ravaged their ally as civilized nations? You say you want to help civilization, but I think your homeland needs civilization more.”

“Listen here! Fine. Then, does the Arasa plenipotentiary representative recognize Korea as a victorious nation?”

Komura Jutaro, unable to answer, looked toward Sergei Witte.

“An alliance was made under the threat of your country, and you even assassinated the Emperor. It just so happens that our country cannot drag the war out much longer. It was Korea who helped end the war quickly, so it doesn’t matter to us.”

‘Threats? That foolish Emperor simply chose his ally!’

Komura Jutaro wanted to storm out of the negotiation room immediately.

But he knew that if he left, it would mean the end of the Empire.

“Can the plenipotentiary representative of the Japanese Empire handle the landing of the Korean-Russian combined forces?”

The war was a barbaric conflict tainted with greed, as the interests of the three nations did not align.

A moment of adjustment was needed.

Komura Jutaro, trying to stall, had to face pressure from the Conservative Party of Britain, which was certain to lose in the upcoming election.

“Where did the Japanese Empire’s war expenses come from in the first place? We are not uninvolved in this war either! You asked us to buy bonds for the war, but now you’ve lost. Why do you keep insisting on war, when you can’t even afford to pay back what you owe? If you don’t accept, the British Empire will have no choice but to take action.”

From Britain’s perspective, this was incredibly frustrating.

The only meaningful damage they had inflicted was on the Russian fleet.

They had sunk a fleet supported by the Royal Navy of the British Empire into the ocean.

“Ugh.”

Komura Jutaro was left with no choice but to accept due to the pressure from Britain.

With one final desperate blow, he intended to drive the Russian Far East forces out.

But, as if proving that the Yellow Race could never defeat the White Race, the massive Russian Empire was sending Japan towards national ruin with their defeat in the Russo-Japanese War.

This was Japan’s reality.

“Well then, will you accept?”

“I will accept.”

Komura Jutaro had essentially been forced to sign a treaty that was no different from a defeat treaty.

***

[Article 1: The Russian Empire, the Japanese Empire, and the Korean Empire pledge peace and cease all hostilities.]

[Article 2: The Japanese Empire recognizes the Russian Empire’s political, military, and economic supremacy in Manchuria, and acknowledges that the land of Gando belongs to the Korean Empire.]

[Article 3: The Japanese Empire government will return Fujian Province and Taiwan to the Qing Empire, and will cede the Tsushima Islands to the Korean Empire as compensation for the assassination of the Korean Emperor.]

[Article 4: The Russian Empire will abandon any superior rights that may lead to the infringement of the sovereignty of the Korean Empire, and will neutralize Gando and the Korean Peninsula’s adjacent islands to remain as a buffer zone in Asia.]

[The Russo-Japanese countries will recognize the Korean Empire’s independence. However, in order for Russia to approve this, the Korean Empire government will exceptionally approve the leasing of Imosaki Bay of Daemado.]

[Article 5: The Japanese Empire will pay 300 million yen in reparations to the Russian Empire for the damage caused by Japanese forces, and 200 million yen to the Korean Empire.]

[Article 6: The Japanese Empire will immediately withdraw its forces from Manchuria, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and the Korean Peninsula.]

[Article 7: The Japanese Empire will recognize Russia’s fishing rights off its coasts.]

[Article 8: The Japanese Empire will nullify all treaties signed with the Korean Empire since 1875, and Japan will renounce all rights in Korea. Afterward, both countries can negotiate a new treaty that does not infringe upon each other’s sovereignty.]

[Article 9: The Korean Strait will be designated as a neutral strait, and the Korean Empire and Japanese Empire will use the strait only for non-military purposes.]

[Article 10: Immediately upon the signing of this treaty, the Korean-Russian combined forces will withdraw from Japan.]

***

A treaty that only benefited the defeat of Japan was signed in Paris.

In essence, it was no different from the treaty of a defeated nation.

Komura Jutaro gritted his teeth.

If he returned with this result, he would surely commit seppuku.

What was even more laughable was the clause about withdrawing the Japanese military.

You needed forces to withdraw! Moreover, there was not even a mention of the prisoners captured in Joseon.

“What would happen to Joseon—whether they would kill or spare them—it was left to their discretion.”

“Ah, and I suppose you have no money to pay it back, but if you have any thoughts, please hand over Okinawa.”

Asking for Okinawa was nonsense.

No matter how much Japan had lost, they could not give up Okinawa.

And…

“Then, what about the Anglo-Japanese Alliance?”

“Didn’t you get the news yet? The alliance has already been broken.”

“This… this can’t be.”

The termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance meant that Britain would no longer be a sponsor of the Empire.

After Japan’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan was now useless, and it was over.

“See, if you were a hunting dog, you should have known your place. Tsk.”

If you’re going to say something sensible, say it.

In the first place, the British Empire had used Japan as a hunting dog to avoid shedding blood, and if they didn’t know their place, the best thing would have been to cook them.