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Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 142

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  2. Joseon Needs a Coup
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Only Noblemtl

#142. World’s collide (3)

“What are you talking about, War Minister?”

“Where did our 100,000 troops that we took to suppress the Boxer Rebellion go?”

“It’s hard to win a fight against Japan.”

Everyone was looking at Kuropatkin’s mouth. But he was telling the cold truth.

“Japan has increased its military budget sharply every year since the last Sino-Japanese War. In 1896, it increased by 300%, and since then, it has increased by 100% every year. In fact, nearly half of their government budget is spent on defense.”

Japan’s military buildup made Kuropatkin nervous. There was, of course, only one reason for their rapid expansion of military spending.

They were expecting a war with themselves.

By 1903, they were trying to double the number of army divisions from six to twelve, not to mention the navy.

“This increase in armaments has greatly exceeded the total force we can mobilize in the Far East. Our army can mobilize a total of 120,000 men in the Far East, but Japan’s current force is nearly twice that number.”

“But isn’t it difficult to see them overwhelming us with just a difference of two times?”

“That would be true if it were a limited battlefield. But the Far East is vast, and our military has too many areas to cover.”

Then he placed the long-range missile on a map of the Far East.

The Far East Theater was divided into two theaters: the Manchurian Theater and the Korean Peninsula.

Among these, the area that Kuropatkin had chosen as something he absolutely had to defend was the South Manchuria area.

The moment the Eastern Qing Railway and the transportation route to Lushun are taken away, the entire land and sea defense plan leading to Vladivostok is in danger of collapse.

“Our army is divided into three major groups. One is the army and navy that defend the Lushun area, another is the Liaoyang-Fengtian line, and the last is the Vladivostok area.”

And the number of each unit did not exceed 30,000. The number of artillery pieces that could be mobilized was about 200, which was only 30% of the Japanese army’s available artillery assets.

“In this state, it will be difficult to defend Manchuria, let alone support the Korean Empire. If we make a mistake, ground forces supported by the Japanese Navy will land in the Maritime Province and cause more than enough trouble to the rear.”

Kuropatkin believed from the beginning that if war broke out in the Far East now, there would be no hope.

It was a neighborhood where it was difficult to employ strategies other than giving up space and buying time.

There was another reason for building a large-scale fortress in Lushun.

The entire Russian army numbered well over a million men, but these men were not in the right places at the right time.

After all, they deployed their armies mainly in Europe and the border areas with the Ottoman Empire.

“I don’t know what Admiral Alexeev, the Governor-General of the Far East, thinks his mission is, but in wartime, all he can do is buy time until our troops and fleet on the mainland can move to the Far East, nothing more, nothing less.”

“but···.”

“Besides, realistically, we cannot operate an army of more than 300,000 in the Far East. The logistics problem is serious.”

“Isn’t that a problem that will be solved when the Trans-Siberian Railway is completed?”

“Well, railways don’t solve everything.”

The Russian army still lacked the complex logistics support capabilities to store supplies at various points along the railroad, the personnel to manage them, and the ability to distribute them to the appropriate front lines.

Kuropatkin was aware of the problem, but it was a problem that time would solve. And if a decisive battle with Japan broke out in the Far East before that time came…

“We need more time. And, inevitably, time will be on our side. The more time we have to prepare in the Far East, the more Japan’s will to go to war will be broken. We must avoid war with them, but we must buy time by putting appropriate pressure and talking. Your Majesty, wasn’t that why you armed and prepared the Korean Empire?”

“The warlord is right. Time is on our side. We don’t have to be dragged around by them the way they want.”

Foreign Minister Ramsdorf and Finance Minister Witte joined in.

Then the Tsar opened his mouth again.

“How long until the railway is completed?”

“It will take at least 4-5 years to establish a smooth connection to South Manchuria. As the saying goes, the more time passes, the better it is for us. However, I think that the anxiety that the Korean Empire currently has needs to be relieved. If they fail to overcome their anxiety and leave, it will not be good.”

“I see.”

The Tsar listened carefully to the words of the ministers. The words of War Minister Kuropatkin were not wrong. They were telling the cold truth, but in the end, they could be sure that time was on their side. And now it was time to choose the way forward. Everyone was looking at the Tsar’s mouth, and he was aware of it.

“Foreign Minister Ramsdorf, you must formally accept the meeting requested by Japanese Prime Minister Ito. If you can resolve the issue peacefully, it would be better than war.”

“Your Majesty!”

“And Lord Bezobrazzoff, you must continue to expand the maritime transport business connecting Primorsky Krai and Busan. You must destroy Japan’s maritime transport capabilities along the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula and make that ‘our sea.’”

He took a neutral stance between hardliners and moderates.

Accept negotiations with Japan, but keep sharpening the knife that can threaten them.

Although it was somewhat ambiguous, it was the only thing that could satisfy both hardliners and moderates.

I don’t know what the outcome of my current choice will be, but at least it will put an end to the current conflict.

The Tsar thought so.

I never dreamed that Britain would be behind Japan.

And the problem was going in an unexpected direction.

***

“Your Majesty! Russia is trying to abandon us. It would be better to secure the safety of the Korean Empire through talks with Japan!”

“Stop talking such nonsense! How can you put your head in the tiger’s mouth when they want to oppress us?!”

“It is your failure to rely on Russia for security! How fortunate it would be if we could secure our own security from various powers through diplomacy.”

“Tell me honestly, how much did you receive from the Japanese embassy?”

“What? Aren’t you the one who took a bribe from the Russian embassy?!”

Today, too, Hansung was a mess. The meetings that had been going on since early 1901 had not ended even after the words were spoken.

Russia dragged out the talks, and Japan put pressure on us with strong statements every time. We were the ones caught in the middle.

From Russia’s perspective, even if the negotiations themselves were a failure, there was nothing to regret as long as they could buy time, so they dragged them out half-heartedly. Every time this happened, Japan sowed discord between us and Russia, throwing out bait for discussions on Asianism and neutrality regardless of whether it was government or private, creating an increasingly heated political situation.

As the issue of establishing the Privy Council was dragged on and on, the Independence Association, which was already growing increasingly dissatisfied, and the Iljinhoe, which was forming its power with the support of Japan, began to clash using this as leverage, and the confusion worsened.

The Imperial Society in the middle, like their leader the Emperor, remained silent and still for several months.

I pondered over when to use this Joker card. I thought I should take it out when the card’s value is the highest, so I stayed true to my main job for a while.

While these lukewarm talks continued, he went through the ceremonial process of being promoted after receiving the medal.

He was promoted to the rank of Army Lieutenant just before departure, meaning he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, or general, in just one year.

To be honest, I was excited, but I could barely contain it. I knew there were many enemies, and they were always watching me.

It’s the same everywhere, but if there’s someone who’s doing well, there are those who are jealous and those who try to bring them down.

I had to be careful. Many gun barrels and powerful men have disappeared into the abyss of history because they failed to watch their step. I could not walk that path here.

“Congratulations on your promotion to general, Chief of Military Affairs.”

“No, it’s nothing special. Anyway, I appreciate your hospitality.”

Lee Yong-ik congratulated me on my promotion, and while looking at the city of Hansung where water supply and sewage construction was in full swing, he said: With the introduction of the streetcar from Colbran, they had also won a contract for the construction of water supply and sewage systems. In many ways, the entire view of Hansungbu was changing dramatically.

“That water pipe that’s being laid over there, that was the long-cherished wish of Park Jeong-yang and me.”

“Aren’t clean water and well-maintained sewerage the beginning and end of a city?”

“Thanks to this, the plagues that plagued the people will be reduced. If we eradicate superstitions through modern civilization, religions that oppress the powerful and the weak like Donghak will never be able to gain power again.”

Oh, so that was the real purpose? After all, one of the definitions of modernity was to destroy superstition.

That’s why I once learned in college that during the Middle Ages, madmen who were respected for speaking the words of God were all thrown into mental hospitals after meeting reason in modern times.

It was a warm Middle Ages and a cold modern era, or something along those lines.

“When I was a water vendor in Bukcheong, having access to clean water was a kind of privilege.”

Even now, water vendors roam around Hanseong. There are two vendors that are indispensable to Hanseongbu: one is a water vendor and the other is a dung vendor. Without them, the city’s water supply and sewage system would be virtually gone.

Of course, it is not that there are no water supply facilities at present, but the supply of water is less than 10% of the area of ​​Hanseongbu.

The same goes for the sewer system.

Hanseong Pan-yoon Kim Hong-ryuk made a plan to supply water supply and sewage to the entire Hanseongbu, and when this was agreed upon by Naejangwon-gyeong Lee Yong-ik and the emperor, construction began in earnest.

“The population of Hanseongbu is 200,000, and if you include the population outside, it would be 500,000. I want to make this privilege a given for all the people of the Korean Empire, starting with them. Shouldn’t a country provide its citizens with clean water and well-maintained cities?”

“That’s a big dream.”

I said, flicking my cigarette. Indeed, Hanseongbu was different from when it drew up its war plans in 1898.

Before we knew it, the stench of sewage that had plagued us every time we entered the city had disappeared, clean streets had begun to be paved, and new houses had been built.

And that’s not all. It was when money started to circulate in the city. From then on, Hanseongbu developed like crazy. As people started spending money, a market for consumption was formed. The first thing that caught my eye was the colorful restaurants.

Residents of Hanseongbu, looking for slightly better food, slightly tastier food, wandered around looking for a place to eat lunch and dinner, and naturally, a variety of restaurants were the first to open.

“Have you ever seen our people so proud? This is my first time. Look at the faces of the people passing by.”

“We’ve suffered so many defeats over the years. Now that we’ve tasted our first victory, isn’t it natural?”

“That is what we have created. This vibrant Hanseongbu. This Hanseongbu will be the heart of Korea and the driving force of everything. If that happens, this country will be able to forget the defeat of the past 100 years and create an empire better than Japan.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to see it alive.”

“I don’t know, but I think you can see it.”

He said with an ambitious look on his face, his fists clenched.

Indeed, if it weren’t for his ambition, many businesses would have been difficult to pursue.

Anyway, instead of revealing his ambitions, he looked at me again.

“By the way, there’s no way you would have come here for no reason. What brings you here?”

“I need some inspiration.”

I got to the point. There was a reason I came all the way here to see him.

Through him, the true Emperor’s confidant and favorite, I had to find a way to overcome the current crisis.

“My help. Now that you’ve become a general, you don’t really need help, do you?”

“We need to buy time.”

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