Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 173



Only Noblemtl

#173. Evil Alliance (2)

Saionji continued speaking urgently to the hardliners.

“Mr. Army, what is our primary strategic objective?”

“If the outbreak of war was in October 1903, they would have taken control of the Yalu River area by the end of December and would have advanced toward Liaodong starting in late January 1904.”

“What if the Korean Empire ruins that goal?”

“Even so, it would be a futile resistance···.”

Army Minister Gentaro Kodama spoke in a mumbling tone, but Saionji immediately put the brakes on his words.

“Time is not on our side, gentlemen. From the moment the Korean Empire joins Russia, we must change our war plans.”

“···Your Majesty, are you now planning to interfere with the war plans?”

“No, Lord Saionji has a point. Instead of the Army, our Navy can go to Port Arthur and blockade the Pacific Fleet until the ground forces arrive to attack Port Arthur, but if the Army’s advance is slowed by the resistance of the Korean Empire, it will be a problem. Since the Korean Empire declared conscription, we have an Army of 100,000 and a Reserve Corps of 300,000. If we push them into a situation where they can’t win but won’t lose, things will go wrong. We must be careful.”

Navy Minister Yamamoto recognized the urgent situation and immediately stepped in to mediate.

The Navy was not yet ready for battle. It would take more than six months for the Nisshin and Kasuga, which were to be assigned to the 66th Fleet, to be delivered from Italy to Japan. However, they could not be put into service immediately upon arrival, and it would take at least April or May of the next year to operate as a full-fledged fleet.

With a weak fleet, blockading Lushun against the Russian Navy, which had an advantage in capital ships, was extremely dangerous. If reinforcement fleets arrived from the Baltic or Black Sea, the balance of power could collapse in an instant.

“···If I have to be more careful than this?”

“We must move cautiously, even if it means delaying the start of the war. We demanded neutrality from the Korean Empire, but they chose to unite with Russia. We must move according to the situation. If we move according to plan now, we will end up walking into the trap they have set.”

Navy Minister Yamamoto attempted to persuade the Army, but the response he received was cold.

“They are being very firm in their response to our ultimatum, and if we back down, we will only be giving them an excuse.”

“That’s right, Minister of the Navy. We must follow the war plan as is. The Korean Empire is no match for us!”

“We have a duty to preserve peace in Asia against this alliance of evil and uncivilized monarchies!”

Saionji and Admiral Yamamoto looked at the figures in the Imperial Assembly with bewildered expressions.

“As scheduled, in October 1903, we must open war. If we surprise the Russian fleet at Jemulpo, land our ground forces there, take control of the capital, Hansung, and detain their emperor and government, they will be subdued in an instant.”

“No, the ships that were supposed to come from Italy haven’t arrived yet···.”

“Even if we lose one or two ships, wouldn’t it be enough if we won the land war? It’s time to stop thinking defeatist and think clearly about what we should do in the war!”

As the Army Minister confidently shouted, the crowd cheered and gave three cheers.

Saionji and Admiral Yamamoto thought that war was no longer avoidable. However, they held out hope for a glimmer of hope as Foreign Minister Komura was currently meeting with Foreign Minister Ramsdorf to negotiate.

Perhaps even the moderate Foreign Minister Ramsdorf might back down. Of course, this was a wishful thinking that was very far removed from the current situation in Beijing.

As expected, as soon as the news of the Korea-Russia defense treaty was announced, Britain, the United States, and Japan launched a propaganda campaign through the media, calling it an “evil alliance,” “a union of absolute monarchies,” and “a marriage between a bear and a rabbit.”

There was no need to be so harsh here. We too, through our friendly neighbors France and Germany, used the media to pour out crude criticism of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

They hurled criticism focused on calling it an “alliance of invaders,” “disturber of Asian peace,” and “evil empire,” and for a while, the media of each country was busy waging a war of words.

“Let us stand against the alliance of vile invaders!”

“The Korea-Russia Defense Treaty is the way to prevent a second Imjin War!”

“Long live the Korean Empire! Long live the Great Russian Empire!”

Outside, those in favor of the treaty and those against it clashed day after day, chanting slogans and shouting cheers all over the city.

Tensions were at their peak on the day that Han Kyu-seol, who had been unexpectedly appointed Prime Minister, signed the treaty with Russian Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Bezobrazov.

“Do not drive the Korean Empire into the abyss of war!”

“We cannot send our young people to war in Russia!”

“Asians unite and drive out the white people!”

On the day the treaty signing ceremony was held at the Seokjojeon Hall of Gyeongungung Palace, the Minister of Defense was forced to declare a state of emergency in the capital.

For three days after the treaty signing ceremony, the streets of Hanseongbu were filled with police officers and soldiers instead of the crowds of pro- and anti-treaty supporters that had filled the streets during that time.

In particular, the parade of the Assault Infantry Regiment, which was also clearly intended as a demonstration of force, was shown toward the Japanese embassy in Namsan, so it was a clear message that could be seen by everyone.

“In accordance with this treaty, the Russian Empire will provide the Korean Empire with a loan in cash and in kind worth 50,000,000 francs for the next five years. The purpose of the loan will be to secure military supplies and to rebuild the fortresses in the northern regions.”

The statement in the defense treaty was firm. Leaving aside the lengthy rhetoric, it could be summarized in one word:

‘To prevent any potential aggressor from being led to believe that either of the Parties is isolated in its interests in the Far East, the Parties formally declare their mutual defense.’

If Britain, with its military confidence weakening due to the Boer War and other events, and suffering from economic instability as a perennial deficit empire, sought a new ally in Japan, Russia could be seen as choosing the Korean Empire as a partner to protect the defense of the Far East and the resulting stability of the Far East economic zone.

And this treaty was the first equal treaty we concluded with a great power, breaking the unequal treaty that Japan had been involved in.

Russia initially provided support so that we could cover the costs of creating 24 infantry battalions and 7 artillery companies in the Far East with our military spending.

And this took the form of a loan, connected to the French capitalists and bankers of the Russian-Chinese Bank, and Japan happily criticized France for this. It was as if the French capitalists, blinded by money, were plotting and instigating war.

Regardless, the French government, while denying that it was their concern, sent the last destroyer to Wonsan Port as scheduled, along with the additional artillery and 800,000 rounds of ammunition purchased from us, and various military supplies. This was probably the last supplies that could be received from France before the war.

At that sound, the directors of the Marshal’s Office could not help but show a complicated expression. The summer of August 1903 would remain for them as something they would never forget, or even be able to forget.

“100 artillery pieces, 50,000 high-explosive shells, 750,000 shrapnel shells, and 50,000 rifles and 1 million rounds of ammunition, and… what is this?”

“Hmm? Did your country also purchase equipment for the cuirassier cavalry?”

“Oh, is that so?”

Captain Peyre, who was employed as the manager of the First Arsenal in Hanseongbu, was with me in Wonsan to unload and inspect military supplies. One very strange item was being unloaded from a French ship.

“No, I don’t think I ever bought anything like that. I bought one cavalry saddle for the entire battalion, but I don’t think I asked for a breastplate.”

“The document I received says that we ordered them together···.”

Captain Peyre handed me a document written in French. As I read it, I could clearly see that it was different from the mixed Korean and Chinese text document I had.

“this.”

Perhaps what was supposed to be an order for a battalion of cavalry harnesses was mistakenly mistranslated into an order for a full set of cuirassier cavalry equipment.

“This is really···.”

It was so damn expensive. I should have checked the order details again carefully, even if it was a little inconvenient.

Anyway, it was our fault so we couldn’t ask for a refund.

As I said before, this was the last arms deal I could get from France before the war, so even if I asked for a refund and something else, it wouldn’t come in time.

In the end, I had no choice but to accept it, despite the mistranslation and incorrect order. Fortunately, most of it arrived correctly, except for the 600-piece cuirassier equipment set that was incorrectly delivered.

The two destroyers were given the names ‘Halla’ and ‘Myohyang’ and were immediately commissioned, and time passed little by little.

***

On the way back from Wonsan, I sent Captain Peyre to Hansung first, then turned around and headed for Pyongyang. I had business there.

“Hmm. Let’s fortify this place…”

“I know you are the leading expert in this field in the Far East. I would like to ask for your advice.”

Major General Roman Kondrachenko, commander of the 7th East Siberian Rifle Brigade, which was recently dispatched to the Yalu River, was thinking while trimming his bushy beard.

This gentleman was the one responsible for causing so much bloodshed to the Japanese at Hill 203, and he was also the most renowned figure in the Far East when it came to building fortifications and field fortifications.

It was quite fortunate for us that he came to the Yalu River at such a time.

There were many evaluations that the Korean Empire’s engineering corps was not that impressive in building modern fortifications and fortification positions, but the Russian army had achieved considerable results in building defensive lines since the Crimean War, so their know-how was also needed.

“It won’t be easy, but I think we can draw up a blueprint quickly.”

“We have to hold out here to buy time for reinforcements to arrive in the Far East.”

“I know. That’s why I came here. Although the Qing were defeated here, Pyongyang Castle itself is a great main fishing vessel. If we set up a number of forward bases before crossing the Taedong River and connect them to respond organically, we could cause quite a headache.”

He looked at the map of Pyongyang and drew lines with a pencil without hesitation. He said that Pyongyang Castle itself was an excellent fortress, but he ordered that a direct defense be carried out by establishing numerous forward positions to the south, as direct defense could lead to a similar result to the Qing army.