Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 178



Only Noblemtl

#178. Yellow Plan (3)

The peace I felt after a long time wasn’t bad.

This peace was especially desperately needed by Min Yeong-hwan, especially considering the recent turbulent times.

Since the sudden creation of the National Military Police and his appointment as its commander, Min Yeong-hwan has been incredibly busy, no less than the director of the Military Affairs Bureau.

The National Gendarmerie he led was created on the advice of French advisers and was an organization that integrated and commanded both the central and local gendarmes and police, and was also responsible for responding to large-scale incidents and riots that could not be resolved by the local governments themselves, and had considerable authority in counterintelligence operations.

Of course, Min Yeong-hwan had also vaguely read the intentions of the emperor who had created them a long time ago.

On the surface, it was said that the local police were not functioning properly because of the Iljinhoe, and that they were increasingly being controlled by local leaders, so the central government created a means for direct intervention, but in reality, it was created with the intention of monitoring the information organization of the Wonsoobu Records Office and keeping them in check.

There are also Imperial Guards, and I don’t know why they were created, but I think the Emperor was trying to create a balanced structure where there were guards who watched over the guards, and guards who watched over those guards, so that they would keep each other in check.

It wouldn’t have been unreasonable, considering that this was how the military was managed just 20 years ago.

“Commander of the Military Police, are you busy these days?”

“Ah, you are a special officer at the Imperial Household Department. What brings you here?”

After a long time, Lee Wan-yong came to the Military Police Command.

Min Yeong-hwan hid the letter he was holding under the desk and spoke rudely to Lee Wan-yong.

Perhaps the author was one of the reasons why the Military Police Command was created.

As the governor of Jeolla Province, he failed to control the Iljinhoe and virtually ignored it, which led to chaos throughout the entire Jeolla Province.

“I, I just wanted to know what the current situation is within the military···.”

“How can you ask that, Special Commander? The Military Police Command only follows the orders of the Chief of the Marshal’s Office and His Majesty the Emperor, and it doesn’t seem to be under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department.”

“Oh, don’t be so upset. My highness is scheduled to be appointed Prime Minister in a few days.”

“So?”

Min Yeong-hwan ticked at him for no reason.

If you are the Prime Minister, then you are the Prime Minister. Why are you trying to act like that even in the Military Police Command?

“So, I’m curious about the movements of the Military Affairs Bureau, the Records Bureau, and the field units in the Hanseongbu area. If they show any internally subversive movements, wouldn’t that be a big deal? Especially since the Military Affairs Bureau chief and the Guard Division commander are both people who have experience with past coups…”

“Them? I don’t really know.”

“No, please take a closer look. In a situation where Japan and Russia may soon go to war, wouldn’t a tragedy occur if our military makes a wrong choice?”

Min Yeong-hwan thought to himself, “Isn’t half of that tragedy caused by the emperor?”

“In that sense, let’s replace their forces for a while. First, we need to move the most dangerous assault infantry regiment to the outskirts of Hanseongbu… How many troops can the commander mobilize right now?”

“···Do you know what you are saying right now?”

Min Yeong-hwan looked at Lee Wan-yong with contempt, as if he had heard something that didn’t make sense. It seemed like Lee Ja didn’t even know what he was saying.

“It looks like the special envoy is trying to forcibly redeploy our troops in order to start a coup.”

“No, that’s not it. The cabinet has been converted into a national cabinet this time, and accordingly, for the sake of security within Hanseongbu…”

“How can you withdraw troops under the pretext of security? The 1st and 2nd Brigades of the Guards Division will be changing duty between the 10th and 11th, and you are even withdrawing the Assault Infantry Regiment? If that happens, the inside of Hanseongbu will be completely empty.”

“No, that’s why we’re saying we should fill that position with a unit directly under the commander of the military police.”

“We don’t have any troops. We have two battalions, but they are all scattered across the country, and even if we quickly recall the troops sent to Gyeonggi Province, they will only be two companies. Are you going to fill the empty positions in the assault infantry regiment with them?”

“If you call the police···.”

“Half of the police force is stationed in Namsan. Why are you removing them from there? Have you already forgotten what they did?”

He spoke while looking at a map. In order to check the Japanese embassy in Namsan and the embassy guards and Gyeongseong garrison stationed in the surrounding area, the Gyeongmu Headquarters assigned more than half of the permanent Hanseong troops to watch over the Namsan area.

Although he was well aware of that fact, Min Yeong-hwan clicked his tongue at Lee Wan-yong’s stubbornness.

In addition, the garrison of the assault infantry regiment was concentrated not far from the key outposts and passages that defended the Gyeongbokgung and Gyeongungung palaces.

If they were missing, the palace would be a no man’s land unless there were adequate replacement troops.

“If they leave, Jeong-dong and Jong-ro will be empty. How can we guarantee that the events of 1894 and 1895 will not happen again?”

“but···.”

“Special Officer, do not dare interfere with the military affairs. The deployment of our units and the timing of their replacement are matters to be discussed with the Military Affairs Bureau of the Marshal’s Office, and are not matters to be discussed with you.”

“No, I’m saying that the military affairs director is acting strange right now.”

“That’s just my opinion. So go back. I don’t really want to do things like moving troops privately.”

Min Yeong-hwan gestured at him as if he was annoyed.

“And don’t do anything that could be misunderstood. Since you’re a special officer, I’ll let it slide this time, but if you approach me privately like this one more time, I’ll arrest you right away. Don’t forget, our national military police is an organization that can report on things after taking preemptive action. Go back.”

Yi Wan-yong’s face turned pale, but he couldn’t say anything else. Behind him, two officers who had arrived at some unknown time were already looking down at him.

As Lee Wan-yong left, grumbling, Min Yeong-hwan called the military police company commanders remaining in the capital.

“If a rebellion breaks out in Hanseongbu, do not act rashly and just stay in your positions.”

“Commander, why are you suddenly giving such an order···?”

“Just in case. Well, the air quality has been bad for more than a day or two, so we can just let it slide. There’s no need to make unnecessary sacrifices. We can’t stop those who come in with two companies of troops. Unless there’s an order from above, we can just hold our current position.”

Just in case, Min Yeong-hwan called in his company commanders and ordered them to guard only the outposts in Hanseongbu.

And as they left, he took out another letter. The letter sent by Lee Yong-ik contained a strong demand to maintain neutrality no matter what happened in Hanseongbu within a few days.

‘There’s no need for shrimp to get involved in a fight between whales.’

Min Yeong-hwan threw the letter into the brazier and looked out the window.

***

On the afternoon of August 10th, while I was inspecting my troops and preparing for the time, the Emperor suddenly summoned me.

When I asked her to meet up a few days ago, she kept refusing, so when she suddenly called me here, I felt a little uneasy.

Others who had decided to join the yellow plan told him not to go, but Lee Yong-ik shook his head and told him to go.

Did he say something like, “There’s no need to act suspiciously, just try to gauge my feelings?”

I walked with steady steps toward Gyeongungung Palace where the emperor resided.

“Come in.”

“A few days ago, you refused to see me, so I am surprised that you suddenly summoned me here. Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry. At that time, Jim’s mind was quite complicated.”

“Are you done now?”

“It’s settled. I’m just grateful that we’ve finally managed to avoid war. Although the cabinet is in disarray, things will settle down in time.”

He wiggled his fingers as if he had something to say to me.

I found myself frowning, as if he didn’t realize the full consequences of his actions.

But thanks to the perfect timing and the bright sunlight, my true feelings were not revealed.

“Ah, the real reason Jim called you here is because he wanted to ask you something. If, by chance, war broke out between Japan and Russia, would we be able to stop the Japanese army…?”

“Your Majesty already attaches great importance to negotiations with Japan. Will war break out?”

I replied coldly. Naturally, sharp words poured out of my mouth, and the emperor seemed quite flustered by this different reaction than before, and even coughed in vain before asking me again.

“Hey, are you upset that I handled this matter all by myself?”

“Well, Your Majesty. After you have approved the defense treaty with Russia and China, I have given up on the idea of ​​suddenly entering into negotiations with Japan. Your Majesty has done something that could provoke both sides.”

I decided to pour out my words to him. I was going to completely shake off the Emperor’s mentality today. I thought it was necessary to psychologically reduce the room for him to think rationally and act rashly.

“Something provocative?”

“I do not know whose trick Your Majesty has been fooled by, but it is a Japanese deception. Japan has already completed its preparations for war and will soon enter into war with Russia and China.”

“What?”

The emperor looked at me with surprised eyes. He was about to reprimand me for saying such things now, but I was one step faster.

“I have tried to see Your Majesty several times to report on this, but have been repeatedly turned down. The time to respond has already passed. The situation will no longer be under control. Because of a single imperial edict issued by Your Majesty, we are experiencing internal chaos, and Japan will use this to try to swallow up the divided Korean Empire.”

“You didn’t manipulate the situation in front of me to your advantage?”

“Her Majesty established the Imperial Guard and created the Imperial Intelligence Service, not only to monitor the Records Investigation Office, but also to conduct espionage against Japan. Have you not heard about this? The main Japanese army and navy have already gathered in Yokohama and Sasebo, and the Korean advance party led by Vice Admiral Hasegawa will head toward Jemulpo late this afternoon.”

I passed the information on to him. In fact, the royal guard probably knew about this as well.

The Japanese army was not small in number, and the entire standing army had begun to move, and the telegraph, railroad, and fleet movements within the mainland were all too obvious.

However, it seems that the Imperial Guard did not tell the Emperor such a thing for some reason.

It is possible that Lee Geun-taek, the head of the Imperial Guard, was recruited by them.

“···This is the first time I’ve heard of this story···.”

“Your Majesty, it is no longer possible to stop the war through your own efforts.”

The Emperor’s eyes trembled as if a chill had run down his spine.

“They will disarm us and use us as a mid-term supply base for the war with Russia. And when the war is over, a fate even worse than the one after Gap-o awaits us. They will probably try to wipe out this country itself and take direct control.”

“That’s nonsense. We already received international recognition of our independence through the 1901 agreement!”

“···The moment Russia and Japan, the parties to the treaty, enter into war, it becomes a piece of waste paper, Your Majesty.”

And France, which was allied with Russia, Britain, which was at odds with them, and Germany, which was trolling, may all have their own ulterior motives and give up on the Korean Empire, which was caught up in the whirlwind of war, with the view that it could not be helped.

The emperor tried to maintain the national system by engaging in tight-knit diplomacy with the great powers, but that was only effective when the balance of power remained tight.

“The exiles who will come with Lieutenant General Hasegawa will probably destroy the Korean Empire from within, one by one. The balance of power maintained by His Majesty the Emperor, the Privy Council, and the Cabinet will collapse, and our Marshal’s Office, which supports His Majesty the Emperor, will also be disarmed. How can Your Majesty enjoy the prosperity and power that He enjoys now?”

And they would form a pro-Japanese cabinet by putting forth exiles and opportunists, and force the Japan-ROK air force alliance, just like during the Sino-Japanese War.

The emperor may have struggled in his own way to avoid repeating history, but all one can do when ignorant of information is to repeat the past.

“Is there a way, even now?”

“Now you say that?”

I snickered. After making the worst move, only then did he realize what a terrible dilemma he was in and say something like that. I laughed rather than got angry. There was a way, but I didn’t need to tell him.

“Like the Byzantine emperors and the Southern Song emperors, Your Majesty has no choice but to lead Your Majesty’s people and army and fight steadfastly until the end.”

“···They are all dead. They lost their country, their people, and in the end, even their own lives. Are you telling me to follow that path?”

“At least it is better than bowing your head in shame. Your Majesty has made a great mistake.”

I stood up and said, as if giving a final verdict.

“If Your Majesty were to annul the previous edict and declare his intention to fight, there might be a way, but there is nothing for now.”

“···Is war really unavoidable?”

“No, Your Majesty. They have already mobilized their forces. We have only two choices: war or surrender. Your Majesty is taking the path of surrender.”

“No, no! Jim was trying to keep this country from falling into the abyss of war again. What does that mean?”

“Sometimes good intentions lead to evil. That is the path Your Majesty has taken today.”

Only then did he realize what he had done, and the puzzle seemed to fit together. He covered his mouth with his hand, trembled, and immediately grabbed my arm.

“Jim made a big mistake. If he had known that the Japanese had already moved, he would not have made this choice!”

“···I guess there is a way.”

I pretended to think for a moment and took his hand. The Emperor looked as if he had met his savior.

“Really?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Just give me one day. I will figure out a way before Hasegawa’s army lands at Jemulpo tomorrow.”

And that method would eventually be the starting point of the war he was trying to avoid. The Emperor was so shocked that he looked like he had lost his mind, and he just sighed deeply into the air until I left.