Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 127



Only Noblemtl

#127. Beijing Express and Blue Red Army (6)

“Ah, you are the hero of the Battle of Tianjin. What is it that you have to say without any notice?”

“Admiral, let me get straight to the point. Let’s send the troops to Beijing.”

“Hmm, didn’t we already express our opinion on that matter at the commanders’ meeting? Before more troops arrive, we should…”

“Admiral, if we delay our advance, we will give Japan an opportunity.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It is literal.”

Originally I had agreed to slow down the advance like Russia and Germany, but after seeing the telegrams that came in this time, it seemed that the situation was not right.

Due to the reckless opening of the war against the Qing, casualties were already pouring out in the northern part of Gando, and in the western part of Gando, Lieutenant General Lee Gyu-tae was waiting to see the situation while postponing his advance.

The longer my advance on Beijing was delayed, the worse things would be for me, so I had to change my attitude.

This was because the war had to end as quickly as possible and unnecessary military action had to be put to an end.

Otherwise, there was a risk that all of our energy would be wasted before a war with Japan even broke out.

That’s why I had to persuade Admiral Alexeyev and go north to Beijing with them.

“Not long ago, the British government contacted the Japanese government to inquire about sending troops.”

“What does that mean?”

“The British government was asked whether it could mobilize more than 20,000 troops in addition to the troops it had already mobilized, as its troop dispatch was currently restricted due to the Boer War. If possible, it showed a very active move by offering to provide military equipment worth 1 million sterling.”

“Hmm···.”

The honeymoon between Britain and Japan had already progressed considerably.

With most of its own army engulfed in the Boer War in South Africa, it was woefully inadequate to stop Russia’s advances.

Since there was only dust even if you scratched the floor, the relationship with Japan, which had the same position as you in the Far East, could not help but become closer.

Japan, with its fear of Russia, was the country Britain could immediately find as an ally.

Of course, the Russian and French Foreign Ministries detected this strange behavior and sent letters of protest a few days later, but the commanders on the front lines were still unaware of it.

If it were normal circumstances, I would have had no idea.

“If we waste time here, a large number of Japanese troops will come. That won’t be good for your country, right?”

“That’s true, but even so···.”

“Then you will have more than half of the total Allied forces. You must take Beijing before the Japanese arrive one after another. When your army and our army make up the majority of the total Allied forces. Only then can you develop the situation as you wish after taking Beijing.”

“In short, are you saying that we should strike first before the Japanese army enters and Britain’s position expands?”

“Well, that’s true, but there’s another reason. If the reinforced Japanese army were to invade Zhiyue, what would Japan do to Qing?”

Although the number of Japanese troops had not yet increased significantly from the original 3,800, it was a done deal that they would increase six to seven times between July 14 and August 1. I reminded him that now, when the Russians still had the numerical advantage, was the best time to do so.

“But the orders from the home country-”

“Admiral, there is an old Chinese saying that when a general goes into battle, he does not listen to the emperor’s orders. The commander here is you, Admiral, and if you lead the troops north, our Korean army will fight desperately in the vanguard. And we will win. I can guarantee that.”

“They say that too much confidence can be poisonous. Now that I understand what you mean, shall I go back? I need to talk to my staff.”

“The later you delay, the more you lose. If you delay any longer, Britain will send troops from British India and send them here. By then, you will not be able to get everything you want.”

“But I don’t understand why you are telling us about something good. Is there some hidden agenda?”

Admiral Alekseev, who had been doing his calculations while listening to my story for a while, suddenly looked at me and said:

Even I would have been suspicious. It wasn’t my country’s interests, but a thorough third party proposing the interests of another country.

However, I had my own logic about this.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isn’t it? We can’t stand to see Japan and Britain, who can be called our enemies, prosper.”

“The enemy of my enemy is not my friend. It’s just another enemy.”

“We are not enemies of your country. We are on the same path.”

“The length is the same.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. His thoughts must have gotten deeper.

“I hope that the fork in the road will not separate you from the Russian Empire and your country.”

“Of course it will be. Until our enemies impose the chains. In any case, the sooner we act, the better.”

I ended my conversation with him by leaving these words.

I don’t know if they’ll listen or not, but I’m sure they have some idea about what Britain and Japan are talking about.

Moreover, he was a hardliner in the Navy Department, so he must have been even more nervous.

As expected, on July 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry, together with the French Foreign Ministry, sent a formal letter of protest to the British government, which had promised to provide 1 million sterling in return for sending troops to Japan.

And with that, Admiral Alekseev gave the following orders to the Allied forces in Tianjin:

“Advancing to Beijing.”

The Russian government has not given any response or instructions in response to this.

Maybe this is what the Russian cabinet wants.

***

“Lord Kuropatkin, this is a bit much. For Admiral Alekseev to take military action on his own, this is a serious problem.”

“I trust the judgment of the command on the ground. And if we think about the problem in Manchuria, isn’t it even more necessary to attack Beijing immediately?”

Despite the protests of Foreign Minister Ramsdorff and Finance Minister Witte, War Minister Kuropatkin only smiled broadly.

At his appearance like that, Foreign Minister Ramsdorf spoke with an expression full of annoyance.

“But our actions will only heighten the vigilance of the great powers.”

“It doesn’t matter. The fact that Britain is providing Japan with military funds in exchange for sending a large number of troops has already spread widely around the world, so it can’t be done to us alone. On the contrary, the baseness of Britain trying to influence another country with money will only spread widely. Haven’t you already taken joint action with the French Foreign Ministry regarding this?”

Foreign Minister Ramsdorf nodded reluctantly.

Since the honeymoon between Britain and Japan was a major threat to Russia’s Eastern policy, it was natural to keep it in check.

“Besides, the chaos in China should not spread to Manchuria, Mongolia, and Central Asia. We should quickly cut out the festering part while we can. The current boil of the Qing Empire is right here in Beijing.”

“But would it be possible with only 20,000 troops? Even the expeditionary force led by Admiral Seymour was pushed back due to numerical disadvantage.”

“It’s largely because the British underestimated their enemy. However, I believe that Admiral Alekseev, who succeeded in capturing Tianjin, is fully capable of attacking it.”

In addition, it was necessary to aim for the Russian army while it was still the main force.

Since July 14, the Japanese army had been increasing its troop strength by transporting troops, supplies, and equipment from the 5th Division stationed in Hiroshima to Tianjin every day, so it was certain that the number of troops stationed in Russia, which was about 6,000, would soon be surpassed.

“Besides, you need to show something to the Tsar’s fence, who is not satisfied with small crumbs of pie. In fact, even the crumbs are not digested at the moment.”

“Are you talking about the Korean government?”

“Well, we’ve advanced to Hunchun, but we can’t go any further than that. They’re pushing too hard. We need to take Beijing, end this war, and show them what they’re worth.”

Russian forces were already fighting fiercely throughout Manchuria.

The number of soldiers defending the Chinese Eastern Railway was increased from 4,000 to 11,000 in just one month, and they were currently engaged in fierce battles with the Boxers and Qing troops in Manchuria.

Most of the Qing army was away blocking the Korean army in the south, so the Russian Ministry of War could swallow them up right away without any problem.

“We are ready to make Manchuria our territory forever, and Admiral Alexeev and his Pacific Fleet have fired the signal.”

“The Tsar-”

“The Tsar is honored to announce that he will become the commander himself and command 100,000 troops, concentrating on the front in Manchuria. It will probably be announced today. The number of troops mobilized is 50,000 to 100,000 fewer than originally planned, but it doesn’t matter since the Korean government is tying up that number of troops.”

“Isn’t this an act of disrespecting the cabinet?”

“Well, our subjects in Siberia and the Far East won’t think so. The Qing in Aihun have shelled our steamships. Our hordes and workers have either lost their lives in outposts all over Manchuria or are isolated and desperately waiting for help. The war on the border has already begun.”

He looked down at the map. Already, in that incident, over 6,000 Chinese residents of Khabarovsk had been systematically massacred in Heilongjiang by local Russian troops and residents, and other areas as well.

He was not unaware that wherever Chinese people lived in the Far East, there were fires and massacres.

All they needed was justification and anger, so just leave them alone.

No matter how many times a bee stung the bear’s huge paw, it was not painful; it was just annoying.

Now, if the bear’s huge paw were to strike that hive of Manchuria, they would be unable to offer much resistance.

Instead, the sweet honey will be covered in an appetizing amount on the bear’s paws.

“There is no turning back now. Isn’t it time to figure out what to demand from the Qing after winning the war for our infinite development and glory?”

Behind Kuropatkin’s smile, a burning ambition was burning.

Although he was a figure who came to power to reduce war expenses and control useless military actions, the current situation was not one of ‘useless’ military actions.

It was a just war, one that could be chosen to enjoy the glory of the Great Russian Empire.

It was a good time, when the Europeans were splitting up, especially now that Britain was struggling to even look after itself.