Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 147



Only Noblemtl

#147. The Great Compromise of 1901 (2)

“We, the French Republic, strongly recommend that both Russia and the Empire of Japan maintain a state of permanent peace in the Far East!”

Governor-General Paul Doumer’s loud voice resonated through the conference room. He showed the terms he had brought and put pressure on both Britain and Japan.

“War in Asia is unacceptable. It would not only threaten the security of the Korean Empire and other Asian countries, but could also endanger the colonies of France and the British Empire in Indochina and India.”

“We, Japan, do not want war. We have simply proposed that the Russian side withdraw all of its troops stationed in Manchuria and neutralize the Korean Peninsula under our guarantee.”

“Nonsense! Do you not know that Japan’s true intention is to annex the Korean Peninsula and use that momentum to invade Manchuria!?”

Admiral Alexeyev exploded with anger at Marquis Ito’s words.

“Why are you so angry? Is there no need for our Japanese Empire to bear the burden of the unrest in Manchuria?”

“joy!”

“Come on, let’s calm down. Aren’t we gathered here for peace, not war?”

Foreign Secretary Lansdowne stopped them. In general, France and Russia were pressuring Japan together, and Britain was mediating between them. The discussions continued for hours, but no solution was reached. Japan would not give in to the withdrawal of troops from Manchuria, and neither did Russia.

“Then let’s do this, Admiral Alekseev. We will give up some of our British construction rights on the Gyeongbong Railway line to Russia…”

“Are you trying to induce a withdrawal from Manchuria by using the Gyeongbong Railway line, Minister of Foreign Affairs?”

“Russia is also feeling uneasy in Manchuria, so a gradual withdrawal is-”

“No. Russia must withdraw all its troops from Manchuria by 1902. Otherwise, we, Japan, will not come to the table for negotiations.”

This tense atmosphere continued. It was the moment when the hands of the clock heading towards war were running towards 11:59.

“If war breaks out, the Russian Empire will have difficulty dealing with our Japanese Empire. Isn’t your Far Eastern Army completely dispersed?”

“Marquis Ito.”

Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jeong Sa Han Gyu-seol, who had been silent for a while, adjusted his glasses and opened his eyes. His already annoying appearance became even more annoying.

“Does that mean you want to use our Korean Empire as a springboard to start a war in Manchuria?”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be like that···.”

“Please speak clearly. Our response will change accordingly. According to international law, sending troops to a country that has not declared war and attempting to commit war is a clear act of aggression, I understand.”

“I’m not talking about invading the Korean Empire-”

“Don’t turn a blind eye, Marquis. Even three-year-old children in this country know that your country will use us as a springboard to wage war against Russia in Manchuria. If Japan disregards international law and attempts to annex the Korean Empire, we will fight with all the means at our disposal.”

“So, I’m not saying we should go to war. The Korean Empire is over-interpreting the current situation.”

“What an over-interpretation! Your tricks have caused the capital Hanseongbu to shed blood twice. Why should we believe in you and listen to you?!”

Han Gyu-seol poured out his words in a strong tone as if he had made up his mind. This time, he was determined not to back down.

Rather, Admiral Alekseev, who had been acting tough on the Japanese until just a moment ago, was waving his hand to stop him for a moment.

Ito and Han Gyu-seol glared at each other for a moment.

“Are you prepared for war?”

“If you want to return home. Even though our country may look weak and pitiful compared to other countries, we will not give in easily. We will fight until the last man, until the last shot. Then, all you will have is a devastated Korean Empire and a bloody battlefield.”

“We will not give you even a single inch of land, not even a single penny in compensation. If you want, we can declare another exile right now.”

When Han Gyu-seol and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary Cho Byeong-sik came forward, Ito laughed heartily.

It was a laugh that surprised even Hayashi, the deputy director who was standing next to him. After laughing for a while, he quickly adjusted his clothes and bowed his head respectfully to Han Gyu-seol.

“I didn’t know there were such leaders in the Korean Empire. Please forgive me for not knowing.”

“What are we going to do now-”

“Let’s take a short break. It will soon be time for lunch.”

Ito called for a brief recess to cool down the heated atmosphere.

The delegations from each country also accepted this. It was soon time to eat anyway.

Ito went out with Hayashi, carrying a load on his back.

Soldiers lined up in a dense crowd were blocking the reporters lined up in front of Daehanmun Gate.

Whether here or in Japan, those idiots really had a hard time. Of course, their blasphemous ramblings were a separate matter.

“If we continue like this, it seems like we’ll end up on completely parallel tracks.”

“Those Korean Empire bastards, they’re really set on it. Rather than being divided, it seems like they’re ready for war.”

“We have been reforming for many years. But Your Majesty, their power is weak and ours is strong. Can’t we just push through?”

“Wake up.”

Marquis Ito had to receive shocking information from Foreign Minister Lansdowne, whom he met just before the negotiations: intelligence that Germany was preparing for intervention.

“Are you talking about Germany?”

“They’re trying to intervene in this situation. Things are getting much bigger than we thought.”

The British Salisbury Cabinet took the stance that Japan should put moderate pressure on Russia and then back down.

They sensed something and predicted that it would cause serious trouble.

Ito thought he was in trouble. If Saionji found out about this, his face would probably turn pale.

And then there was a commotion outside.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry employee came in sweating profusely and opened his mouth quickly, out of breath.

“Huff, huff, Marshal Baldersee and German officers have entered Jemulpo. They have been dispatched to calm the situation by order of the German Emperor.”

Things started to go downhill in the worst possible way.

Ito quickly headed towards Foreign Minister Lansdowne.

I had to prepare for it because I didn’t know what they were going to take out of the box.

***

“No, why is the Duke of Deokguk in Jemulpo…? Isn’t this something we didn’t know about?”

“This is going to get a lot worse. Damn it.”

“You weren’t the one who called?”

“Why am I putting Deokguk in this position? If they get in, things will get messed up!”

I said, biting my nails. Things are messed up.

German Empire? What we wanted was the French Republic to check Britain and Japan and assist Russia, not German intervention.

It was clear that if they intervened, the international political issues of Europe as well as Asia would become intertwined, creating a much more complicated problem.

It was the moment when my warning that problems in Asia would spread to Europe’s problems came true.

I don’t know why Germany is intervening in this, but they had to deal with Field Marshal Baldersee and his party.

The Jemulpo naval base already reported that two battleships and four cruisers had entered port, flying the German Imperial Navy flag.

“No, the battleship···?”

“These are the German naval forces that were left in Jiaozhou Bay immediately after the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion. They came here.”

An entire squadron of the home fleet was in Kyoju Bay, and some of them seemed to have arrived in Jemulpo.

Their grandeur itself was enough to make other powers nervous.

Japan was the only navy other than Germany that operated four battleships in East Asian waters.

Of course, since there was no longer any reason for the home fleet’s battleships to be tied up in East Asia, they said they would withdraw starting in June, but it seems that they had rushed into Jemulpo with Marshal Baldersee before that to show off their power.

The eyes of the French and Russian delegations had already changed, and Britain and Japan were also becoming nervous.

He was also a moody, cornered Kissinger who fancied himself a great monarch.

The problem is that Kaiser is not just a corner Kissinger, but a man with real power.

The crown prince hurriedly put on his uniform and ran to Yongsan Station, and the military band and honor guard that had worked hard yesterday were called out again to prepare to welcome them.

The Seoul Railway Bureau was desperately trying to allocate special trains, and it was so urgent that they could not bear to watch.

And a few hours later, he entered Yongsan while reviewing the honor guard together with Field Marshal Waldersee and Admiral Geisler, commander of the German Navy.

They were extremely overbearing, but unfortunately or fortunately it wasn’t directed at us.

Guided by the nervous Crown Prince and officers of the Marshal’s Office, the stiff German delegation strode briskly toward Gyeongungung Palace, where negotiations were in full swing.

“I am a special envoy from His Majesty the German Emperor. I have come to maintain peace in the East.”

“You must have had a hard time on your long journey···.”

Gojong greeted them with a bright smile.

The sudden appearance of the Germans completely cooled down the already frozen atmosphere of the conference room.

They declined the banquet hosted by the emperor, saying they had no time to waste, and began negotiations right after dinner.

“We, the German Empire, cannot tolerate the present situation in the East! It has barely been a year since the Boxer Rebellion was suppressed, and you intend to stir up trouble again!”

In a strong tone, Marshal Balderdeen raised his voice towards the Japanese and British.

They created an atmosphere that said, “If you want to try, go ahead and try.” They were displaying tremendous confidence based on the fleet they had brought in and the ground forces they had deployed in China.

I quietly watched them like that in the conference room.

This was because I had to give advice right behind the scenes at the request of Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jeong Sa Han Gyu-seol.

However, no effective method has been found yet, and the level of pressure from the German Empire was greater than expected.

“Marshal Deokguk is putting strong pressure on us.”

“Just leave them alone. Their fleet is also a silent pressure right now.”

From Japan’s perspective, the nightmare of 1895 began to creep back into the mind.

I couldn’t help but think of the lost spoils and the influence in Asia that had been lost due to intervention by Russia, France, and Germany.

Their faces turned pale and they began to protest against the German claims.

“Our Japanese demands are simple, Marshal. Only if the entire Russian Imperial Army withdraws from Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula is neutralized…”

“Russia’s withdrawal from Manchuria is unacceptable. The Qing army is collapsing and bandits are sweeping across North China. Are you saying that we should leave this area empty? That would be enough to provoke a second or third Boxer Rebellion!”

Marshal Balderzee pressured Ito in a strong tone.

No matter how much Hayashi tried to protest, the warning that came flying at him was quite strong.

“If the Japanese Empire is not satisfied with the status quo and ultimately chooses to start a war, our German fleet in Kyoju will do its utmost to help Russia maintain peace in Asia. In addition, our German army in Beijing will also intervene. So please make a wise choice.”

On one hand, it was refreshing, but on the other hand, it was unsettling.

The intervention of a country like Germany was a factor that was enough to provoke both France and Britain.

Britain in particular had proposed an alliance to Germany in both 1898 and this year, 1901, and had been rebuffed, while France still hated Germany, even though nearly a century had passed since the Napoleonic Wars.

It was obvious to them that the mere fact that Germany was intervening in Asian affairs would have a major butterfly effect.

The expression on the face of Governor Paul Doumer, the French representative, was already not very good.

He looked as if he was uncomfortable just being in the same place as a German.

“In addition, the neutralization of the Korean Peninsula is also problematic. This is something that the Korean Empire, an independent nation, should decide. So, is neutrality imposed by another country truly neutral?”

“······.”

After hearing the interpretation, Han Gyu-seol readjusted his glasses.

It seemed strange that they suddenly began representing our interests.

It is still unknown whether this is the Kaiser’s good intentions or whether there is some hidden ulterior motive behind their actions.

In the first place, their involvement was a variable beyond common sense.

“Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor wishes that matters in Asia remain as they are.”

“This will do us no good. It is no different from not resolving any threat at all! The Russian invasion of Manchuria itself is a great security threat to our Empire of Japan, Marshal.”

“It seems that you are now siding with the Russian Empire, but we in Britain are also concerned about Russia’s advance into Manchuria. It is Russia that is now disturbing the peace in the East!”

The Japanese and British delegations immediately counterattacked.

Marshal Balderdeen frowned as if in a bad mood, and Admiral Alexeyev and Governor-General Paul Doumer immediately retaliated.

“Our Russian army went to Manchuria to ensure the safety and peace of the North China region! We have made enormous sacrifices and paid enormous war expenses to maintain order and peace. Why can’t we help you and stab you instead?”

“The British claim is almost a contradiction. If it had not been for the Russians, we would have suffered more casualties from the Boxer rebels. I don’t know how many troops you sent to the war against the Boers, but I think it was at least less than the Russians.”

“We have sent the troops of India and Weihaiwei, and the Oriental Fleet!”

“That’s because all the work has been done!”

If things continued like this, it seemed like things would go wrong.

With Germany involved in the Russo-French alliance… how can we think about it?

I thought silently and then whispered to Han Gyu-seol. I had to buy some time.

He also agreed with my opinion and suggested that we hold the meeting again tomorrow since the atmosphere was overheated. Everyone who had been arguing like a hamster wheel agreed to this. Now it was my turn to get busy.

As of June 1901, the number of fleets of each country deployed in East Asian waters is as follows:

Germany: 4 battleships, 11 cruisers

Britain: 3 battleships, 16 cruisers

Russia: 3 battleships, 10 cruisers

Japan: 4 battleships, 27 cruisers

France: 1 battleship, 10 cruisers

United States: 2 battleships, 9 cruisers

The sources are as follows:

Jeong Sang-su, “German Fleet Policy and Overseas Fleets 1898-1901,” 『History Education』 103, History Education Research Association, 2007.