Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 149



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#149. The Great Compromise of 1901 (4)

“Hahahaha! When our Great German Empire came out, those guys’ expressions changed, which was really great!”

Admiral Geisler looked worriedly at Marshal Baldersee, who was laughing for a long time.

“But if we press too hard, it will be a problem. France and Russia may think they are on our side now, but if we are not careful, they may turn their backs on us too. It is better to negotiate appropriately.”

“Admiral Geisler, those guys who used to be so proud at sea are now talking nonsense, so why don’t we have some fun? Hahaha!”

But the Balderdashian paid no attention and burst into laughter.

Has Prussia, the land power, ever displayed its power at sea so proudly?

He laughed for a long time and then opened his mouth again.

“Yes, as the Admiral said, if we press too hard, it’s a problem. So what should we do now?”

“Your Excellency, it would be best to help France and Russia to maintain the status quo. It is unpleasant to have France in the middle, but if we want help in the Far East, it is better to be indebted to Russia.”

“Then, will you support Russia’s actions as we do today?”

“Yes, that would be better. Then we can expand beyond the cult.”

Admiral Geisler was well aware of the Kaiser’s ambitions, which enabled the Navy to grow rapidly as an entity independent of the Army, and for numerous ships to emerge from German steel and shipyards.

It could be said that they were able to launch a large fleet that could challenge the numerous empires that enjoyed supremacy on the seas.

Such a Kaiser was now very interested in the Far East. Even if it had not been for the special envoy sent by the Korean Emperor, he would have intervened in the current situation by any means necessary. Of course, thanks to the Korean Emperor’s request, he was able to enter much more cleanly.

“Wouldn’t it be a bit insufficient to just expand vested interests within the religious sect?”

“The Korean Empire is a producer of high-quality anthracite coal.”

Neither Marshal Baldersee nor Admiral Geisler had any intention of stopping at expanding their vested interests in Kyoju Bay.

They also wanted to receive something in return for their efforts from the Korean Empire, and that was anthracite coal.

The quality of Korean anthracite coal was already widely known in Europe.

It is said that the quality of the British Cardiff anthracite coal is comparable to that of the British Cardiff anthracite, but it is much cheaper and is mined in large quantities.

And rumors were spreading that Russia and France had a monopoly on it.

The Russian fleet could not dare to monopolize it.

Furthermore, the Japanese fleet could not be allowed to occupy it either.

“In exchange for favoring Russia and the Korean Empire in this matter, we will demand Kyojuman and Jeotan respectively. If our Kyojuman fleet is supplied with good quality anthracite coal, it will be much more maneuverable.”

“That’s great. It’s a bit disappointing, but if we try to take more, France and Russia will grind their teeth.”

“After all, the Korean Empire is within the fence of the Russian Empire. There is no need to provoke them more than necessary.”

Then Admiral Geisler stood up from his seat.

It wasn’t a problem to be thought about only in the mind. It was necessary to strike first before Russia and France could properly prepare for the new competitor, Germany.

“I will go and meet Admiral Alekseev and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Korean Empire.”

“Will they really accept it?”

“I will accept it. If war breaks out in Manchuria, the ones who will suffer the most are Russia and the Korean Empire.”

Marshal Balderdeen nodded, and Admiral Geisler headed straight for the Russian embassy in Jeongdong.

At night, each country sought out the other according to its needs and for its own benefit.

And the end was revealed only the next morning.

***

“We, Russia, will withdraw our troops from Manchuria by 1903.”

“yes?”

“The French Republic will guarantee this. Given the size of the Russian army, and taking into account the time it will take, I propose to withdraw all troops by the end of 1903.”

The British and Japanese delegations, expecting a heated debate like yesterday, looked at each other in bewilderment.

The same was true for Germany. They wanted to take advantage of the situation by waiting for both sides to fight, but they were taken aback when they saw Russia and France backing down more easily than they had expected.

And what was even more surprising was the German reaction.

“We in Germany also support this. If peace continues in Asia, there is nothing wrong with that.”

Even the Korean Empire, which had been taking a hard-line stance until yesterday, remained silent.

Marquis Ito realized that they had been negotiating behind the scenes. The French and German delegations, who had been indifferent to his proposals, had already decided to keep their mouths shut and represent each other’s interests.

“It seems that those who were tough until yesterday are ready to negotiate today?”

“If you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do.”

Germany, France, Russia, and the Korean Empire have already made promises to each other.

If Germany supported the French and Russian positions, Russia was promised tacit approval for Germany to expand its sphere of influence into the Kyoju area.

It also included a pledge by both France and Russia not to intervene in Qing’s request for assistance.

From the Korean Empire, they demanded a ‘special privilege’ to supply anthracite coal from the Pyongyang coalfields to the Eastern Fleet at a low price, on the same terms as the Russian Empire.

At first, we called for low carbon, but we had to give up because the Russian Empire was raising its eyebrows. We couldn’t provoke Russia more than necessary.

The officials of the Korean Empire hesitated for a moment, but agreed that supplying anthracite coal from the Pyongyang coal fields would be a very cheap option if it meant choosing between war and a grand compromise.

Finally, after much deliberation, they approved the German request and agreed to supply it to the Oriental Fleet in Tsingtao from the moment the agreement was signed.

Meanwhile, France was granted priority negotiating rights for the Gyeongui Line project in return for supporting the Korean Empire’s position.

When they decided to do this and trade off their interests, it became clear who had the greater advantage in the negotiations.

“If the Russian Empire makes concessions to this extent and the Korean Empire’s government also strives for peace, and if Britain and Japan do not accept it, then it will inevitably lead to unfortunate results.”

Foreign Minister Lansdowne looked at Marquis Ito with a look that suggested he had no choice but to accept it.

Britain had no intention of dealing with not only Russia and France, but also Germany.

I had no intention of sacrificing my country for cheap loyalty to Japan.

“I don’t know what the plan is, but the conversation has definitely progressed since yesterday.”

In the end, Ito also had to accept this.

In return for Russia’s conditional withdrawal by 1903, Britain and Japan were forced to sign an agreement requiring them to maintain the status quo on the Korean Peninsula.

In return for Russia’s “promise” to withdraw from Manchuria, the Korean Empire was able to exert tremendous deterrence on Japanese hardliners by once again confirming its independence under the guarantees of each country.

“···This is the Second Coming of 1895.”

Marquis Ito muttered to himself. They half succeeded and half failed.

Although they were able to secure a promise of Russia’s withdrawal from Manchuria, they failed to recover the sphere of influence they had withdrawn from the Korean Peninsula.

Now, they had to worry about how to explain this to the hardliners within the military who were filled with a desire to advance into the Korean Peninsula and to the people who had tasted blood in the Sino-Japanese War.

The Seven Articles of Hanseong, which would later be called the “Great Compromise of 1901,” were signed in a way that was friendly to the Korean Empire, with the support of Russia, France, and Germany.

“May peace in the East be achieved through this.”

Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Jeong Sa Han Gyu-seol recited as he finished signing.

Of course, no one believed that it would guarantee permanent peace. It was merely a reprieve, a temporary postponement of a war that might have broken out at any moment.

“Is this enough, Chief of Military Affairs?”

“I hope so.”

I responded bluntly to Han Gyu-seol’s words.

This could have been achieved without giving more if it had not been for German intervention.

When he asked to send a special envoy, it seemed that he sent one not only to France and Russia, but also to Germany.

I heard that Mr. Greathouse, the legal advisor, had gone on a business trip to Belgium, and it seemed like he had gone.

In contrast to my displeased expression, Marshal Balderzee was smiling broadly and shaking hands with the representatives of each country.

Fortunately, the Kaiser’s ambitions were not stretched any further thanks to the patronage of the Russian Empire, but he still had to supply high-quality anthracite coal from the Pyongyang coalfields to Qingdao.

“You are very resourceful. Thanks to your tricks, we were able to avoid the immediate threat of war.”

“Now is the real beginning, Your Majesty. Now I can speak clearly. There is no way to avoid war between Manchuria and the Korean Empire.”

“What does that mean?”

“Japan won’t give us any more time. Your Majesty, I think we should start preparing.”

“What you mean by preparation is the navy and conscription?”

I nodded silently. Now we were slowly moving towards the final preparations for war.

I don’t know how it will end, but at least we must show the courage to fight against the chains of destiny that are about to tighten around our necks.

Because only humans can do that, they must fight and conquer against those who oppress and suppress them.

While the delegation was busy laughing, talking, and drinking, I turned my back and went back to the Marshal’s Office.

The Great Compromise of 1901 was seen as merely an extension of the fuse that would lead to a greater war.

***

“Your Majesty, have you not seen this matter in the light? It is now necessary to introduce a conscription system in the Korean Empire as well.”

“Even though we have trained enough soldiers, they are only used to suppress domestic bandits and secure the borders. They are not enough to prevent foreign invasion.”

As the Great Compromise of 1901 averted the imminent threat of war, the issue most actively discussed in the cabinet was the introduction of a conscription system.

Everyone in the city felt a clear gap in power. The majesty of the German fleet that had entered Jemulpo, as well as the Japanese military buildup and Russia’s enormous military power, were enough to make everyone tremble.

The inexplicable pride that arose during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, thinking, “Aren’t we strong enough?” also subsided as a result of this incident.

There were successive petitions from scholars calling for military reinforcements nationwide, and furthermore, advice poured in from high and low ranking officials that we too should organize a naval force capable of defending the ocean.

An indescribable fear, like cosmic horror, lurked in their minds.

They were gripped by the fear that if it had not been for Russia and France, they would have collapsed helplessly under Japan’s oppressive attitude.

In the second half of 1901, the cabinet and government, which had previously had differing opinions on the conscription system and naval power development, were finally able to unify their opinions.

This means that the reorganization of the Army and Navy, as well as quantitative expansion beyond qualitative expansion, are urgently needed.

However, there was disagreement about the form in which it would be accepted and by what criteria.

“Conscript young men between the ages of 16 and 35, following the example of the past practice of uniting soldiers and farmers.”

“Who has such a military system these days? Your Majesty, follow Japan’s example and conscript soldiers.”

“Although the country is small, it has a Baek-i (a phonetic transcription of Belgium) that even the leading European countries cannot do carelessly…”

All sorts of arguments were put forth. However, despite the arguments of these ministers, the emperor did not proceed with any discussion.

I guess there were a lot of problems.

Thus, the debate over conscription that continued throughout 1901 ended without achieving any significant results.

Now was the time to use the Joker I had. Now was the time when that card would be at its most lethal and worth its price.

“Director of Military Affairs, why is it that His Majesty only talks about the conscription system?”

“That’s true.”

I was having a meal with Eo Yoon-joong, the longest-serving Minister of Finance, who was thinking about taking out that card.

He said that he was frustrated with the current situation as he filled his glass with alcohol.

“I think what Korea needs now is not elite soldiers, but a huge army that can protect the entire country···.”

“Will the finances support you, Your Majesty?”

“I will support you. The compensation and plunder money you brought from the Qing Dynasty alone is enough to feed, clothe, and shelter 100,000 troops for a year.”

“Haha, when I seized the ‘3 million nyang’ worth of silver in Tianjin, the first thing that came to mind was your face.”

I told him, emphasizing the three million nyang.

“3 million nyang···?”

“Yes, ‘3 million nyang.’ Is there a problem?”

I asked with an expression that said I didn’t know anything. I have to act well from now on.

“Is it really 3 million nyang?”

“Yes. It’s 3 million nyang, but···.”

I looked at him with a questioning expression.

Then, as if something occurred to him, Eo Yoon-joong put down the glass he was holding.

“That’s strange. At that time, only 2 million nyang came from Tianjin. I was curious about this, so I ordered the investigation office of the Ministry of Finance to investigate all the receipts and transport ships you sent, but so far, there has been no result…”

“What are you talking about? I definitely sent 3 million nyang. Everyone who was involved in the operation at that time knows that.”

“That’s strange. Then where on earth did the 1 million nyang go…?”

He wiped the alcohol from his beard with his sleeve, looking puzzled.

“By any chance, you didn’t steal it, did you?”

He answered his question fiercely.

“Are you crazy? If I had that kind of money, I would have just given it to my subordinates and kept them quiet. They say the money leaked out somewhere, but there’s no way they could have taken it from the Tianjin to Jemulpo route.”

“Hmm, it’s a bit of a strange story.”

Eo Yoon-joong brought up the story cautiously.

The Ministry of Finance’s investigation office conducted an intensive investigation, but they did not find any particular charges, and instead, the Imperial Household Department began to protect them.

“It’s certainly strange. Why did the Imperial Household Department suddenly intervene?”

“That’s true. If it’s a problem of money leaks, then the Imperial Household Department should be more concerned.”

“Surely His Majesty the Emperor···”

“···You think so too.”

However, in the absolute monarchy of the Korean Empire, it was impossible to arbitrarily investigate the emperor. Even if it was true, there was no way to retrieve it.

“I don’t believe it either, but I was wondering what to do if His Majesty the Emperor was involved.”

“Hmm. I guess Seolma catches people, though.”

By using this as a pressure card, we could have pushed for the introduction of a conscription system as a card to change the situation.

There, he was able to get rid of the thorn in his side, Customs Commissioner McLeavy Brown, by framing him for the crime.

It was true that that gentleman had been up to some pretty bad tricks lately.

According to the records investigation office, there was also circumstantial evidence that he had embezzled some of the customs duties, and this became confirmed as he blatantly sent people to Shanghai.

Moreover, it seems that he also had an account in his name at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

“There is a trick···.”

“anything?”

“It’s the press. If you give them a little hint, they’ll bite and tear at you. Then, the situation might come to light naturally. Plus, you’ll be able to blow away the General Tax Accountant who has been ignoring us for a long time.”

“hmm.”

He didn’t give a definite answer right away. This was an issue that could easily lead to being branded as disloyal and accused of being a traitor.

The contents of the 7 articles of Hanseong mentioned in the work are as follows. Please refer to them.

1. The British Empire, the French Republic, the Russian Empire, the German Empire and the Japanese Empire, present at the conference, reaffirm the independence of the Korean Empire and guarantee its territory, sovereignty and well-being.

2. Russia will gradually withdraw its troops from Manchuria by October 1903. However, in case of local security issues or the Boxer Rebellion, the withdrawal date may be extended with the permission of the countries participating in the conference.

3. The French Republic and the German Empire guarantee the dates and promises of the withdrawal of Russian troops, and will assist in jointly responding to the Russian Empire’s failure to comply with the date of withdrawal without any justification.

4. The Empire of Japan recognizes the dispatch of military advisers by the Russian Empire and the French Republic, but assumes that any additional dispatch of instructors in the future will be subject to mutual negotiations.

5. Each country shall make it a rule to notify when sending a fleet to Asia.

6. We recognize the sovereignty and rule of the Korean Empire over the Gando region.

7. Japan’s priority in the construction of the Gyeongbu Line railroad is acknowledged.