Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 125
Only Noblemtl
#125. Beijing Express and Blue Red Army (4)
“Your Majesty, what do you mean? To replace the commander of the expeditionary force in Tianjin?”
“I would like to ask you about replacing Lieutenant General Lee Gyu-tae. It has been almost a month since Lieutenant General Lee Gyu-tae led the Pyeongan Province Army, and he is still sitting in Uiju, so how could he not feel frustrated?”
“Your Majesty, the generals in the field know best how to handle military affairs. If they can’t move forward, there must be something wrong.”
Inspector General Min Yeong-hwan jumped up in surprise at the emperor’s words. A sudden change of commander, this was an outrageous statement.
“Furthermore, General Kim Si-hyeok of Tianjin has achieved a great victory and is preparing to advance towards Beijing. If he is suddenly replaced, the soldiers under his command will be confused. Even if preparations are somewhat delayed, a replacement of the commander is unacceptable.”
“Hmm, isn’t it a bit too slow?”
“Recall that Lieutenant General Lee Geun-taek’s unit suffered considerable damage. They moved too hastily before the Russian army could move.”
Those who advanced from Hamheung through Musan succeeded in advancing to Yanji and Hunchun, but failed to advance to Dunhua, which is further north.
Although Lieutenant General Lee Geun-taek launched several fierce attacks on the enemy with an extremely aggressive stance, he suffered considerable losses and was forced to retreat due to the Qing army desperately defending the area and bandits who began to attack the rear.
Although supplies were scarce, the loss of capacity was also a major factor as waterborne diseases began to spread within the barracks.
“General Lee Gyu-tae’s unit will cross the river within three days, so please wait a little longer.”
The emperor could not hide his dissatisfaction as he watched the current sluggish situation.
No, he had no intention of hiding it from the beginning. If his thoughts were right, they should have been roaming around Manchuria with the Russian army, but the situation was far from easy.
When the Russian army began to descend on Manchuria with a large force of 150,000 to 200,000 men, his own army was still lingering on the border. This was something that most of the Marshal’s staff had expected.
Even General Kim Si-hyeok, who had advanced to Tianjin, pointed out that if an operation was to be carried out, it should be done after August when troops and supplies had been gathered to the maximum extent possible.
Of course, the emperor was angry when he saw his telegram and said that there were cowards in his army. That is why Min Yeong-hwan tried his best to appease him.
I couldn’t even imagine what kind of chaos would arise if I were to replace all the commanders now.
“I understand. However, I am not very satisfied with the current situation.”
“I will do my best to produce results that will satisfy Your Majesty.”
“That’s the way it should be.”
As the Emperor coldly left the Marshal’s Office, Min Yeong-hwan sighed deeply and sent the other staff officers out.
He was reading too optimistically, beyond not knowing much about the current situation.
It is not easy to start a war that mobilizes tens of thousands of people, but it is even more difficult to bring it to an end.
When I was in Europe, I saw that even the great powers were constantly trying to avoid such wars.
But the current emperor was not like that. Where had his former brilliant self gone? He treated everyone with an attitude that bordered on arrogance that surpassed himself.
No, maybe it was because Japan had dispatched its 5th Division to Tianjin on July 14th.
The Emperor was apparently incensed by the news that the British Cabinet had promised the Japanese government a subsidy of one million sterling if they would send more than 20,000 troops, and they had no reason to refuse, so they immediately sent more troops.
Japan was able to expand its interests within China even while receiving military aid, so it seemed that they were trying to do something to avoid being left behind.
“To end this foolishness, paradoxically, our troops must enter Beijing.”
“···It was you.”
“So we must accept the Qing Dynasty’s surrender.”
As if to see through Min Yeong-hwan’s worries, someone appeared behind him. It was Baek Seong-gi, the military collaborator.
“Your Majesty takes military service too lightly.”
“Be careful what you say. You might end up losing your neck.”
“Please tell me so. I would rather bite my tongue and die than see our troops suffer unnecessary damage.”
Then Baek Seong-gi approached Min Yeong-hwan. Then, as if someone was listening, he began whispering dangerous stories into his ear.
“Our army, which achieved a great victory in Tianjin, must advance to Beijing immediately.”
“But they just finished fighting and are exhausted.”
“We need to increase supplies to give them some flexibility. Isn’t there one thing that Kim Jeong-ryeong is good at? He is skilled at improving logistics and reorganizing troops with the flexibility gained through that. If it were up to the authority of Chief Min, who is currently serving as the Director of the Military Affairs Bureau, wouldn’t he be able to immediately increase supplies for them?”
Min Yeong-hwan looked at Baek Seong-gi with a stinging look.
This gentleman was making dangerous suggestions to privately advance his army north without the Emperor’s permission.
I waved my hand and said, “What nonsense is this?” but he seemed to be serious about it.
“The people are actively supporting this war, and so are the royal family and the cabinet. In such a situation, what can we do….”
“That’s why we must occupy Beijing even more. It is the heart of the Qing Dynasty, and if it falls, the people will be satisfied.”
It was a dangerous idea. The Emperor wanted this war to last as long as possible, and through it he hoped that the commercial and industrial powers he supported would become even bigger.
Of course, Min Yeong-hwan had a vague feeling that those who held the money would not remain under the Emperor’s shadow forever.
However, the emperor was a man who wanted the war to be prolonged for immediate gain.
Not knowing that the real enemy is lurking with its claws hidden very close by.
“I have a plan. Would you like to hear it?”
Min Yeong-hwan decided to listen to Baek Seong-gi’s words, pretending to be fooled.
Perhaps it could save lives and resources that would otherwise be lost in vain.
***
“Huh, what gave you the nerve to come here?”
“I have come separately to express my regrets, as per Admiral Alekseev’s decision.”
“Is this the one apologizing now?”
“There is a Korean proverb that says, ‘Listen to the Korean language until the end.’ It is also regrettable that the armory was built. So let’s do this.”
I thrust a document at the Japanese commander.
He took it with a flinch, either surprised that I spoke their language more fluently than he had expected, or surprised that I had suddenly thrust the document into his hands.
“What is this?”
“Instead of making an official expression of regret, let’s just bury it here.”
“No, this is···.”
He looked at the document and his expression became even more surprised than before.
“320,000 seok of rice?”
“We have come across a quantity that is difficult for us to manage. We will make some concessions on this matter. So, let’s quietly cover up the mistakes made by our advisors and the destruction of the armory.”
There was no need to create unnecessary conflicts between the Allied Forces. That would only lead to them being stabbed in the back or getting hit in the head.
Right now, foreign correspondents and domestic reporters are going around here and there, pretending to be on active duty. If the current situation were to spread to Korea and Japan, there is no telling what kind of problems it might cause.
Between the Korean Empire, which was beginning to show increasingly defensive nationalist tendencies, and the Japanese Empire, which was revealing increasingly aggressive tendencies after its victory in the Sino-Japanese War, one small incident could cause a butterfly effect. It was convenient to nip uncontrollable variables in the bud in advance.
“hmm···.”
“We are well aware that the food situation in your country is not very good. Although it is small, it is also a demonstration of our sincerity.”
Japan’s situation had been worsening since 1896. Although it had won the Sino-Japanese War, its influence in Korea was gradually diminishing, which was ultimately deeply connected to its own food security problems.
The massive supply of rice produced in Samnam and soybeans grown in Hamgyeong Province was a huge lifeline that fed the Japanese archipelago.
The problem is that it has become completely distorted since the last coup.
Japan, which had been stabilizing its food situation by procuring rice and beans at low prices, has been experiencing increasingly serious internal problems as it has been unable to do what it had been doing for the past 20 years.
“Isn’t that because of your royal guards?”
“That is a legitimate right that a sovereign state can exercise. It is thanks to your country that we have become a truly sovereign state since 1894.”
“Are you trying to fight me?”
“No, I’m telling you the truth. I know it may be sad to hear this, but the war and coup d’état that took place in ’94 and ’95 created the nation, Your Majesty. You somehow created the most violent and despicable nation in human history.”
“What?”
“You did not evaluate our ancestors in the past years of Byungin and Sinmi. They were the ones who fought until the end, even when faced with defeat. You awakened that.”
I said it sarcastically. They invaded under the pretext of liberating Joseon from the Qing, but they may have awakened the most disgusting thing of all.
It’s like the annoying villains in horror movies, touching things they shouldn’t and awakening evil spirits or monsters.
And they awakened the Korean national character that should never be awakened, and in the worst possible way.
“The innocent and ignorant Korean people are no longer around. Instead, thanks to you, Koreans have awakened to anger and hatred, and have recently found their own identity there. Oh, what a tragedy this is.”
I spoke as if I was reciting a poem. And the Japanese commander who saw that did not erase his displeasure.
It seems that he never expected those who he considered inferior to him to act like this. After the mood cooled down for a moment, I changed the subject again.
“Anyway, I know that your country’s food situation is very bad right now. So, we are going to apologize and strengthen the friendship between our two countries by handing over the 320,000 seok of rice we have captured to you.”
Perhaps the food situation in Japan is at its worst right now. In 1896, a sack of rice cost 15 yen, but in 1900 it exceeded 16 yen.
You may think it’s only a 1 yen difference, but if you say that to ordinary people, it’s a different story. For them, the fate of the 1 yen is directly related to their household finances.
After 1896, Japan had been experiencing massive corporate expansion and a growing stock market, but after 1898, it fell into an economic depression and stagnation, which is also partly to blame for the current slump.
Thanks to that, our companies that started to grow on their own were able to push out Japanese companies and exert influence in various places, so it was a good thing for us in one way or another.
And when I heard that the direct cause was the risk of the Eulmi Incident and the coup that occurred that year, I felt good about it. The path I chose led to their confusion.
“What is your intention?”
“Intention? I have no intention.”
In fact, compared to the 3 million nyang of silver, the 320,000 seok of rice was nothing. And the decisive factor is that there is currently no way to transport that much.
Most of the available ships were lost as they were busy transporting military supplies and wounded soldiers to the rear, and most importantly, they were busy trying to start a war with the Qing across the border.
In the end, I can’t do this or that, so I guess it’s better to show my humanity in this way.
“···I accept your apology.”
“Okay. Instead, let’s make it so that there is no separate official apology or regret.”
I asked to shake his hand, but the Japanese commander seemed displeased and ignored me until the end.
“Let’s save the right hand for later. Until the day comes when you can hold this hand.”
“That day will never come.”
“Not everything in this world goes as planned.”
I stood up from my seat with a faint smile.
“Anyway, we’ve left the rice warehouse outside of the main gate, so you can just load it from there. Our troops will withdraw as soon as your troops take over, so don’t worry.”
Then he ran out. Somehow, he was receiving cold stares from all over, but he ignored them and left their barracks.
Somehow, on the way back, I saw a familiar yet unfamiliar flag hanging, and a scream was coming from there.
“Ha, shit.”
I came back from solving one problem only to witness another problem occur.
I really felt like a lot of strange things were happening these days.