Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 182



Only Noblemtl

#182. The Road to War (2)

“We know that they are deceiving and deceiving us from within with falsehood. Some claim that they will help us with pure good intentions and protect the Asians against the tyranny of the whites. But this is a dangerous form of false hope that destroys our own vigilance and resistance from within. We have clearly seen that such things are false since the last year of Ga-o and Eul-mi.”

The current key generals of the Marshal’s Office, who had experienced that time, quietly closed their eyes. Perhaps it was a display of restrained anger.

“They have come to force us into chains once again. They claim to drive out the tyranny of Russia and Asia, but they will annex our country and use it as a stepping stone to advance to Manchuria and seek the continent. Will our descendants be able to live with dignity in such a future? They will slowly die under the vain illusion of a public sphere. They will slowly suffocate under their oppression, resenting countless things we have not decided at this moment.”

And we will have to endure the sarcasm and criticism that will be heard even by future generations.

I simply could not accept that. I could hear criticism that the war had caused countless deaths, but I could not stand the accusation that I had given up my country without fighting.

“Those who are defeated in battle can rise again someday, but those who surrender without fighting can never regain what they lost. We must now make a momentous decision. And that decision must be this. We must reject the chains they impose. We must destroy the rotten order they lead. We must resolutely reject their wicked attempt to turn the Taegeukgi of Korea into the Japanese flag!”

Clap clap clap!

Applause poured in from all sides. Even those who had been booing and opposing him occasionally now kept their mouths shut or bowed their heads as the excitement gradually took over the surroundings.

“Since the year of Imjin, the Japanese have been trying to cross the sea again. This is not simply a war between two countries, but a spark of resistance against the invaders who have the ambition to enslave numerous countries and peoples. This will be a war of our Korean people against the oppressors, and it will be a stern warning that no one should invade this country recklessly. We must show that national sovereignty is sacred, and those who dare to look down on it will have to pay a price.”

When it was emphasized that this was not a war just for the rulers, some generals, and ministers, but a war involving all the people, the members of the Imperial Association, which was mainly comprised of peddlers, raised their voices even louder.

I thought so because it was in line with their argument that there was no scholar, farmer, artisan, or merchant class in loyalty to the king and patriotism.

“Our struggle is not a lonely one, nor is it something we must endure alone. In order to maintain the freedom and sovereignty of Korea, we signed a defense treaty with the Russian Empire and promised to stand shoulder to shoulder and defend this country. When they come south with a million-man army, we will sweep them back to where they should have been!”

This time, the pro-Russian ministers and Marshal’s officers applauded. It was still uncertain whether they would really send a large number of troops, but at least they had signed a defense treaty with Russia and agreed to jointly respond to Japanese aggression. That was why Japan was so nervous that it moved much earlier.

“Your Majesty the Emperor of Korea, and the wise men of the Cabinet and Privy Council, and the brave generals of the Marshal’s Office and the Military! Our power is infinite, our army is strong, and our people are united. So the arrogant enemies will soon realize that 20 million workers, peasants, and intellectuals are standing together with our Korean army to confront the invading enemy, and that the entire Korean Empire will resist their invasion and achieve final victory!”

“Oh!”

“A small spark can set vast fields and high mountains ablaze, so if we do not burn, who will light this dark night for all the nations of the world? What we need is not division and deception, but determination and a fervent fighting spirit to preserve the national system. We have no place to retreat from their aggressive ambitions any longer. All the Korean army and people, as well as the government and royal family, must unite and face the coming war. With united strength, we must march toward our final victory. Long live the Korean Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Korean people!”

“Wow!”

Everyone shouted like crazy. The officers of the Marshal’s Office and the military department drew their swords and shouted “Long live His Majesty the Emperor” and “Long live the Korean Empire” three times, calling for war, while the ministers and the Privy Council shouted for a general mobilization order and requested that the Emperor give orders.

Although I was exhausted, I managed to grab the podium and look at everyone, and the Emperor, who was forced to make a decision, met my eyes.

When I nodded with a stern expression, he hesitated for a moment, then jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“It has been exactly 40 years since I ascended the throne, but those Wa are treacherous and cruel, and despite countless attempts to reform them, they have not listened. They have treated our kindness with hostility, and have revealed countless wicked schemes to oppress our territory and people.”

Everyone waited, chewing on each word the Emperor spoke next.

“Therefore, I hereby give orders. Disband the present cabinet, form a war cabinet, and appoint wise and courageous men who can overcome the present crisis, and command that, in accordance with the Treaty of Hanseong in 1901, we, the Republic of Korea, defend our sovereignty and secure our independence without regard to any means or methods. Countless hours and lives may be lost before we overcome their long-prepared and heinous invasion, but I have faith in the strength of the Korean soldiers, government ministers, Privy Council, and our people.”

The emperor sighed after saying these words, as if he had crossed a river from which there was no return.

Those who were excited cheered and called for war at the Emperor’s words without recognizing his appearance, but at least I could see his appearance clearly.

Now, the time has come when no one can back down.

***

Immediately after the declaration of de facto war preparations began, a war cabinet was established and the military command was also reorganized.

Han Kyu-seol, the current Minister of the Military, who was known for his hard-line stance toward Japan, was appointed Prime Minister of the wartime cabinet, Lee Beom-jin, another formidable hard-liner toward Japan, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jo Byeong-sik was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry.

When I saw him as ‘Mr. Banggokryeong’, I couldn’t help but think of him as a corrupt, patriotic, and corrupt person, but at least I had high hopes for what he could do as the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry in the war against Japan.

The first order he issued as soon as he became Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry was to declare a nationwide grain embargo against Japan, so that goes without saying. In particular, by imposing an embargo on the grains that had just been produced this year after the harvest had been completed, it seemed that he was trying to give Japan a painful time in many ways.

For Japan, which has lost a lot of farmland due to industrialization, the blocking of rice and soybean exports will cause bigger problems than expected.

“If it’s Mr. Cho Byeong-sik, he’d probably give Japan quite a nightmare. He’d expand that terrible ban on the whole country. And that was also Mr. Cho’s dream.”

As Lee Gyu-tae said, Jo Byeong-sik was a gentleman who would gladly do that. His logic of ‘advanced corruption’ that the country must be healthy so that they can have something to eat for a long time was making me think about various things.

Along with the arrangement of personnel for the exhibition cabinet, arrangements were also made for those who would actually command the military.

According to the 1901 war plan, Lee Gyu-tae, a lieutenant general, was appointed as the commander of the Three Provinces Army Commander-in-Chief in charge of defending Gyeonggi-do, Hwanghae-do, and Gangwon-do, and Jo Dong-yoon, who was also promoted to lieutenant general, was appointed as the commander of the Information Corps, which temporarily integrated the Imperial Ikmunsa and the Records and Investigation Office of the Marshal’s Office in preparation for war.

And I too was given a new mission.

“Chief of Military Affairs Kim Si-hyeok, listen up! The court has heard the sound of drums and is waiting for an elite and renowned general. I hereby grant you the axe and spear in charge of the northern part of the country, and I hereby grant you the especially gracious sound of a yuneum. You are someone I have chosen with my heart for a long time, and everyone has said that you are an experienced person. Gwanseo and Gwanbuk were originally the beginning of our Great Han and the gateway to Hanseong, and have long been key positions that have kept out barbarians. The mountains and rivers here are as strong as a lock, so how could we not rely on you only in times of crisis? Gyeong is a position that participates in the important affairs of the court and also devises strategies to govern the military. When our ancestors first planned to conquer this place, the warehouses were well-stocked and the defenses were tight, but because of the vile Japanese, the peaceful times ended, and all efforts were in vain, and now that we are on the verge of war, I cannot help but worry that the ranks of the camp will waver and discipline will collapse. If you are not truly a seasoned and skilled person in military affairs, how can you entrust the responsibility of governing an important checkpoint where the fate of the country depends? Gyeong learned military tactics through his family business and has served as a general for generations. His fame and achievements were first revealed in controlling the military forces of Giyeong (Pyeongan Province) and Gyeonggi, and he has proven to be excellent when tested both internally and externally. The reason I am truly entrusting you with this important task is because I have shown great favor both before and after. Hereby, I appoint you as the Yangseo Sunmusa in charge of the defense of the two provinces of Gwanseo and Gwanbuk. You must respectfully accept the order given to you by grace and manage military affairs well. Remember your past achievements and work even harder so that the wicked hordes of enemies will never be able to destroy this Great Han. Also, make sure that there are no complaints about the lack of soldiers and strategies, so that you can devise good future plans and deal with everything appropriately. Ah, since you have the bearing to solidify the country like a rock, I expect that the plans you devise will be appropriate. When a general is upright, it is good, so you should understand the special intention of my special selection. That is why I am giving you these instructions, so I think you understand well.”

Immediately after the emperor issued his royal edict to me, he immediately promoted me from the rank of Lieutenant General to the rank of Vice-General, a three-star general. It was effectively a promotion, but it was quite unconventional to appoint me as the Yangseo Provincial Commander, who could command the entire Gwanseo and Gwanbuk.

It was an enormous power that allowed him to control not only the Gwanseo Commander and the Gwanbuk Commander, but also the military forces commanded by the administrative commissioners of West Gando and North Gando.

In some ways, it was a much higher rank than the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Provinces Army, which Lee Gyu-tae was in charge of. So, the expectations the War Cabinet and the Marshal’s Office had for me must have been enormous.

Afterwards, a general mobilization order was declared and martial law was imposed throughout the country.

There was no time to delay any longer. We had to be fully prepared before they could respond to the coup in earnest.

On October 10th and 11th, the Japanese army confirmed that all six battalions commanded by Hasegawa had landed at Jemulpo, and that part of their fleet was heading north via Gunsan.