Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 116
Only Noblemtl
#116. Unexpected development (4)
“Sir, something is definitely happening in the Far East. This is a message from the Minister of Plancy stationed in the Korean Empire.”
The French Foreign Ministry in Paris, like St. Petersburg, Russia, was also busy.
The French Third Republic was, to put it positively, a country brimming with energy; to put it negatively, a country full of chaos.
It was a world where vitality and death coexisted, with various forces coming together to create energy, discord, and chaos.
In such a world, what happened in the Far East was originally close to being secondary.
The power struggle between Germany and Europe and the resulting power game has determined the direction of Europe.
The two countries had already fought two wars in the 19th century, with their armies mobilized to fight each other, leaving indelible scars on both sides.
That is why, if ever the French Third Republic turned its eyes to the East, it was when things arose in the colonial empire of Indochina.
But this time it was a little different. There was a mixture of suspicion and anxiety that events in the Far East might dictate the course of Europe, much like the turmoil that the French Third Republic had been experiencing in recent times.
“It was noisy in Europe, and now in the Far East?”
“This is a problem in which Russia is deeply involved.”
He took the telegram with a deep sigh. It was obvious that the telegram would probably contain something that called for France’s choice.
And it was up to Foreign Minister Delcasse himself to decide this.
In other words, it also meant that if he made the wrong choice, there was a possibility that something big would change, not only in France, but also in Europe and Asia.
“The Korean Empire government’s… separate attachment of the expedition plan and declaration of war to the border area of China? Haven’t they already dispatched troops to jointly respond to the incidents in Beijing and Tianjin?”
“Aside from that, we immediately responded on June 21st, immediately after receiving the Qing declaration of war. Ambassador Plancy is said to be awaiting orders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The full text contained detailed stories.
There was information that the Korean Empire government was preparing to send troops to the Korea-Manchuria border, and that firearms and ammunition produced at weapons factories in the capital city of Seoul were being transported in large quantities to armories in the North.
This was accompanied by a warning that Captain Peyre, an advisor to the armory, and General Kadual, a member of the Imperial Military Advisory Group, might possibly move together with the Korean army.
“Manchuria···.”
“You could see this as a fight between small countries in the Far East, but this could escalate into a serious problem. Britain, Japan, and Russia all have complex interests. Ambassador Plancy has also been asking for help from home to make war plans be abandoned.”
Minister Delcasse felt dizzy. France, at the moment, was forming an alliance with Russia to check Germany, and was waging a diplomatic war, ignoring even the jeers of the world who called it a marriage between a carp and a rabbit.
As part of a measure to check the German attempt to encircle France, a large loan of 500 million francs was given to Russia in exchange for joining hands with Russia, which was behind them.
However, they did not provide large-scale infrastructure and military build-up in the West, including Europe, as France had hoped, even though they had loans.
Rather, they turned their gaze to the east, with the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which was their wish.
In that situation, Delcasse trembled with fear for a moment.
What if the events taking place in the Far East are being directly carried out by Russia, which is manipulating the Korean government?
What if, because of our alliance with Russia, we get sucked into a war in Asia that we have no interest in getting involved in?
It would only be good for Germany.
In particular, it was even more important to avoid the unnecessary confrontation with Britain that would arise from an alliance with Russia.
The power of Britain had already been severely tested at Fashoda in 1898.
At that time, France was pushed back by Britain in the most trivial yet important areas, and had no choice but to admit that if it went to war, it might lose.
-Can you telegraph this to Paris via Cairo?
This was the story told by Colonel Marchand, who was in charge of the French army when they met the British army at Fashoda.
France had no means of its own to send telegrams from Africa back to Paris, France.
It was only possible to send it to various parts of Europe via London through the telegraph offices established in Cairo or Cape Town, which were equipped by Britain.
And the telegram sent by Colonel Marchand read as follows:
[From. Fashoda
[We met the British army here. Should we fight?]
After all, the British government could not have been unaware of the fact that the French had sent a telegram asking them whether they should fight immediately after their encounter with the British at Fashoda, which was sent by the British forces at Fashoda to the telegraph office in Cairo, which was under British control, and then to London, and then on to Paris.
The fact that France’s military power was being pushed back by Britain was a secondary problem.
The sense of crisis was bound to grow as even the most trivial yet important communication issues remained unresolved.
Here was added bad news for France, for the stupid Italians had been utterly crushed in the Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia, to the point where they were not worthy of being called a great power.
In addition, his predecessor, former Foreign Minister Anotto, also ended up being forced out due to the Panama Canal corruption scandal and the Dreyfus affair.
The plan to complete the African transcontinental route by using the railroad construction rights as an excuse and puppeting out of power ended in failure when Italy was destroyed, and in Fashoda, they shrank down while showing only a shameful appearance. This was the reality of France.
But then again they clash with Britain over a problem that may have been initiated by Russia in the Far East?
This was a difficult problem to accept. France had nothing to gain.
Rather, the colonial empire in Indochina that had been obtained through the Sino-Japanese War could have been threatened by the British Oriental Fleet.
“Ask the Russian ambassador in detail about the matter, and make it clear to our embassy in Korea that no matter what happens, our advisors must not be deployed for armed action against the Qing.”
“I understand, Minister. However, the Korean Empire government is continuously seeking to improve relations with us, so isn’t this area likely to have a negative impact?”
“We’ve always talked about that issue, but it’s only a secondary issue.”
Delcasse certainly drew the line. Of course, it was not that the French Republic did not welcome the new partner in the Far East, the Korean Empire.
Not only could they benefit from commercial exchanges with the Korean Empire through connections with the Indochina Empire, but they could also give the Qing, a thorn in their side, a chance to attack their former vassal states and poke them in the eye.
Above all, it was believed that it could serve as a bridge connecting the French sphere of influence in Indochina and the Russian sphere of influence in Vladivostok.
In Asia, the combined fleet of the Russo-French forces, although not necessarily of superior quality, was able to exert a deterrent effect by at least outnumbering the British Oriental Fleet.
And the place where the fleet could be organically linked was the Korean Empire.
Of course, it is unclear what would happen as the Anglo-Japanese relationship became stronger, but it was not completely without value, and so the Emperor attempted to maintain the relationship by sending a personal military advisory group as requested.
However, the current situation was such that the clear losses were greater than the expected gains.
Britain is currently struggling in the Boer War in South Africa, but it may not last long. Surely, when the situation there is settled, Britain will present a proper receipt in some form.
It would be more like a receipt for the world paying the price for playing around while Britain was not paying attention.
“···Well, the Korean government is increasingly refusing to be assimilated and accepted.”
“If it becomes excessive, their future will not be secured.”
“It’s a pathetic move. But the romantic era ended with Napoleon, so we can’t guarantee them a future like that.”
Minister Delcasse did not hide his personal sympathy.
However, as France’s foreign minister, all he could send was this compassion and sympathy.
Where there is no interest and glory for France, they will have no place to stand.
***
“General Min, are you really going to fight the Qing?”
Lee Gyu-tae spoke as if protesting to the chief of the prosecution, Min Yeong-hwan, but he also shook his head.
“There is nothing we can do.”
There was no way to stop it now. The military adviser Baek Seong-gi cried out loud and warned that if they went to war now, they might face unbearable problems later on, but all he got in return was the emperor’s wrath and the ministers’ cold expressions.
The staff of the Marshal’s Office were unable to open their mouths in this situation.
He simply organized an army to advance north and appointed men to lead them.
“We can only hope that Russia and France will keep us in check.”
“If we cross the border at full power now, we’ll run into problems.”
“I know that too.”
Lee Gyu-tae felt deep in his bones that the current power of the Korean Empire was too much.
Although there were about 20,000 troops prepared, including the demonstration brigades and guard brigades gathered in the capital, and the infantry battalions raised from the Pyongyang Garrison, and the three brigades and artillery units newly established in the northern region in 1898, there were about 50,000 troops prepared, but this was an army prepared solely for defense.
It was not an army for the offensive at all. The three brigades of regular troops were functioning in terms of supplies and such, but the artillery forces centered around the Minbo were not like that.
First of all, the supply system was not unified because rifles and ammunition were collected as they were, and above all, there was no clear control established between the local leader and the garrison commander.
“If we mobilize the military in the northern region now, the consequences will be enormous.”
That was understandable, as the military power and command authority between the commander of the Jinwi Corps and the governor had not yet been clearly defined.
“So, didn’t you say that the plan to treat the inspectors as army chiefs should be abolished and that the civil security forces and artillery forces should be unified under the jurisdiction of the Jinwi Corps?”
“His Majesty the Emperor has refused.”
“······.”
Lee Gyu-tae sighed at Min Yeong-hwan’s words.
Although he had also sworn loyalty to the Jongmyo Shrine, he had difficulty understanding the current dual command and control system.
Of course, it is true that the Emperor’s distrust of the military as an organization has been building up for the past dozen years or so, but this is a factor that cannot help but have a negative impact on the military preparing for emergencies.
It was clear that if the military command and military administration authority that could actually operate the military were given to the governor in charge of local administration, judiciary, and public security, there would be great difficulties in mobilizing troops, let alone local defense.
There have already been several reports of power struggles between the brigade commander and the governor or local governor.
The advance guards were deployed along the border, but suddenly the local governor ordered them to withdraw because this was the territory of the Sapo troops he commanded, or the governor gave the barracks that were supposed to be used by the Jinwi troops to the Minbo troops. Fights broke out, and it was not uncommon for the Marshal’s Office and the military to intervene.
In this situation, if both the Jinwi Corps and local artillery were mobilized to open war against the Qing, Lee Gyu-tae predicted that something terrible would happen.
No, that’s not all.
Most of the field officers who would participate in this expedition had the same thoughts.
“Your Majesty doesn’t completely trust the Marshal’s Office and the military···.”
“What kind of war can we have with such an army? At the very least, the Marshal’s Office should step forward and unify the artillery and civilian defense forces in the north. Otherwise, when we clash with the Qing army in Manchuria, we will have a big problem.”
“Don’t worry about that for now.”
“Director of Records?”
“The artillery will not be mobilized for this expedition.”
Chief of Records Cho Dong-yoon opened the door and spoke. He acted as if he knew the whole story, and Chiefs Lee Gyu-tae and Min Yeong-hwan looked at him with displeasure.
I had a positive view of him because he had military and intelligence skills, but it seems like things are going badly for him.
“The Qing troops at the border are worthless anyway. There’s no need to mobilize artillery.”
“However, the number of Qing troops that their Seonggyeong General or Jilin General can mobilize is close to 20,000. Even if they mobilize troops from the central government, would it be possible with only that number of troops?”
At Lee Gyu-tae’s words, Chief Jo Dong-yoon shrugged his shoulders for a moment.
Then he put down the bundle of papers in his hand and said.
“Generals, never overestimate your enemies. You will find them ridiculous when you see their true colors.”