Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 372



Only Noblemtl

#2-28. New alliance (2)

“···Please state your business briefly.”

“It’s simple. If Mr. Sun Yat-sen agrees to abide by the terms of the previous agreement, we can support the war you are preparing for now.”

“What? How can I-”

“There is no information that our records bureau does not know. No, in the first place, that bastard Yuan Shikai used the 7th article of the revised constitution to play the emperor, so would patriots like Sun Yat-sen just let that happen?”

Shin Gyu-sik wiped away the smile from before and looked at Sun Moon quite seriously as he spoke.

Already in July 1913, the Records Bureau of the Imperial Household Agency was focusing on the efforts of Yuan Shikai, who had gained momentum from the disastrous end of the war, to play the role of de facto emperor and strengthen his legitimacy both domestically and internationally.

Accordingly, he was walking a precarious tightrope by instigating Zhang Zuolin to start a large-scale war on the border, replacing rebellious revolutionaries and warlord commanders in southern China, and even suppressing the Restoration Faction, which wanted to restore the Qing imperial family.

Napoleon III of France naturally came to mind, but the political sense of Napoleon III was on a different level from that of Yuan Shikai.

Although he led the country while maintaining a political balance between the bourgeoisie, the people, and the Bonapartists, unfortunately Yuan Shikai lacked that ability.

They were nothing more than a powerful Beiyang warlord with 600,000 men who ruled the country with an iron fist.

In such a desperate situation, Sun Yat-sen was preparing for war in a slightly more powerful form.

The Chinese Revolutionary Party had already been organized in Seoul, and many famous Chinese revolutionaries had joined the party. They were also seeking connections with the Yunnan warlords who had a strong anti-Yuan and anti-Sekai tendency.

As this situation continued, the cabinet and the Marshal’s Office generally agreed that if they could not avoid a serious clash with the Beiyang warlords led by Yuan Shikai over South Manchuria, they should open a second front with Sun Yat-sen at the forefront.

However, there was continued debate over the scale and form of support.

“Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the reason you were defeated in last year’s war was not simply because you did not have our support. It was not because you did not have enough soldiers to hold guns and fight. The important thing was that you did not have the brains and faith to fight and win.”

“God?”

“Since you have broken your promise to us, which of the Savior powers would have believed your sincerity? You have broken your promises to other countries, so how can the people and the Savior powers believe in a leader like Sun Yat-sen?”

Shin Gyu-shik pressured Sun Yat-sen, and he also offered him a carrot: if he kept just one promise, he would give Sun Yat-sen everything he needed to start a revolution.

When Sun Yat-sen did not answer and showed that he was thinking about it, he suddenly got up from his seat and said that he should take out the cards he had.

“I can also introduce you to a very good friend who can help you with this.”

And then, without even giving Sun Wen a chance to answer, he removed the door that had separated it from the next room.

Then, a man who had been drinking alone and enjoying a snack for a while turned his head for a moment and then raised his hand.

“I am Major Nozu, a former attaché at the Japanese Embassy in Korea and currently working at Matsui Corporation.”

“Oh, Mr. Shin. How long has it been since you retired from the military, and you’re talking about the rank of lieutenant colonel? It’s been years since the damned Foreign Ministry and the bastards at the Imperial General Headquarters took away the little lieutenant colonel I had.”

He frowned slightly and grumbled, but then a businesslike smile spread across his face and he held out his hand.

After the last war, he was virtually discharged from the military for being friendly to the Korean Empire and helping to sell weapons, and he lived with a half-loathing and skepticism toward his own country.

The Foreign Ministry that used him did not help Lieutenant Colonel Nose at all even though he was in trouble, and instead only provided unfavorable testimonies.

In such a situation, Matsui Bussan, which was eager to expand its business in Korea and advance into South Manchuria, reached out to him under the calculation that he could be useful in Korea, and Major Nozu had no choice but to reluctantly join them.

At the time, the Korean government also recognized that this was not a bad appointment. Matsui Corporation and Major Nozu had already been recognized as ‘generally harmless’ before the war, and they were people who were obsessed with their own glory and success rather than loyalty to their country.

Because of this, they were evaluated as being more trustworthy and motive-wise than those who simply bought them with money.

In addition, the Korean Empire was still a poor country and could not continue to supply Sun Yat-sen with the materials and funds he wanted. At such times, Matsui Trading Company, which wanted to advance into Manchuria and the continent, was able to satisfy their needs.

Since both sides were the best partners they could find at the moment and long-term partners, they were able to create a decisive opportunity to immediately join hands and actively support Sun Yat-sen.

“Master Sun Yat-sen, your fame has shaken countless people even in the distant islands. It is an honor to see you here.”

“ah···”

“We at Matsui Trading can assist Mr. Sun Yat-sen in his great cause.”

When the surprised Sun Moon looked back and forth between Noz and Shin Gyu-sik, the two burst into laughter.

“It is a rule of this world that there are no eternal enemies or eternal friends, but Matsui Corporation is a company that has maintained friendly relations with our government since before the war. You do not need to be so wary.”

“Mr. Sun Yat-sen, we at Matsui Trading can actively assist your revolution.”

And the story that followed was enough to shake Sun Yat-sen’s heart.

“If you implement the existing agreement on the separation of South Manchuria, the Korean Empire will definitely implement the dispatch of military supplies and military instructors. If you do that, there will absolutely be no repetition of the tragic events of July last year.”

“Come to think of it, isn’t there a problem with exporting military weapons to China? Even during the last revolution, there was quite a bit of trouble when the information was leaked while the Korean government was supplying weapons.”

Even at this time, the Korean government suffered a lot from the suspicious eyes of the great powers. It was because of the suspicion that, while claiming to be a neutral country, it was trying to intervene in the civil war that was aimed at bringing down the Qing Dynasty.

Of course, this was barely covered up after a very chaotic show of hiding the truth by claiming that a domestic company was selling outdated weapons privately.

However, since it was burdensome to provide direct support this time as well, the Korean Empire decided to join hands with Matsui Trading Company.

It was a sort of roundabout route, with the Korean Empire providing military training and some military supplies and funding, and Matsui Trading Company supplying most of the military supplies and equipment needed to arm the revolutionary army.

“We at Matsui Bussan can deliver 30 million yen in funds and enough supplies to arm two divisions immediately to Shanghai, if only Mr. Sun Yat-sen would keep his promise to the Korean government.”

Lieutenant Colonel Nose made a bold statement, pounding his chest. He couldn’t believe that this much support would actually come, but it was enough to give him the impression that he would have some pretty solid supporters.

“···Then let’s talk about the conditions.”

Sun Yat-sen thought for a moment and then made a decision. He felt that he needed a real salvation from the fiery temptation of Yuan Shikai, who was a traitor to the revolution and was trying to bring about the ruin of the entire Republic of China.

Although it may be necessary to exclude South Manchuria from the territory of the Republic of China, that is a problem to think about later, and for now, we must put out the urgent fire through alliances with them.

In this way, the three men from Korea, China, and Japan were able to reach an agreement, and a new type of alliance began to take shape.

***

“You reached an agreement?”

“Yes, Director of Records. It was something that both Sun Yat-sen and Matsui were satisfied with.”

Captain Cho Dong-yoon accepted the document handed over by the new spirit and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hahaha! This is a really great triangular contract. This is a true example of Asianism.”

“Are you really going to help them?”

“Of course, I will help you. If necessary, I will even have to bring out my own cannons and swords to help you. What would be a waste if you came forward and destroyed the plot of the Japanese and the Beiyang Clan on our behalf?”

The paper he was holding was densely filled with the secret treaty signed between the Korean Empire, Sun Yat-sen, and Matsui Trading Company. It was quite a long text, but to summarize, it was as follows.

1. Sun Yat-sen will abide by the previous agreement on the Manchurian issue and guarantee Matsui Trading Company the right to enter the business.

2. The Korean Empire promised Sun Yat-sen 200,000 won in funds, military supplies enough to arm one regiment, and support for a military instructor corps of about 100 people, and permitted Matsui Corporation to participate in the South Manchuria project.

3. Matsui Corporation, at the request of the Korean Empire government, provided loans for telegraph and post office branch operations in South Manchuria and supplied Sun Yat-sen with various materials to arm two divisions by 1915.

“That’s very good.”

“But I also have doubts about whether it is too hasty, given that we cannot know how far Matsui Corporation’s greed will go.”

Shin Gyu-sik spoke in a shaky tone. Although he was close with Lieutenant Colonel Nose, it was only a personal relationship, and since his loyalty was to the Korean Empire itself, he felt a little uncomfortable giving interests to a Japanese company.

“That’s just a small crumb compared to what we’re going to get. We’re going to be able to solve two problems at the end of the day.”

Jo Dong-yoon said with a bitter laugh. Through the agreement with Sun Yat-sen, the Korean Empire had passed a rather important turning point.

It was a very advantageous position to occupy against Yuan Shikai’s Beiyang Clique, who were growling over the South Manchurian issue, and their henchman Zhang Zuolin.

He had foreseen the future to some extent. In the end, Yuan Shikai would not solve the crisis as he was doing now, but would suppress the people and suppress them with force, like placing a very heavy stone on a cauldron.

If so, it would reach a critical point at some point and explode, but unfortunately, he knew that Yuan Shikai did not have the ability to deal with it properly.

Moreover, Jo Dong-yoon was very happy to create the critical point for Won Se-gae with his own hands.

Not only had that arrogant son of a bitch made so many enemies on all sides, but he also had a personal aversion to him, having personally witnessed and experienced his tyranny in the past century.

Moreover, it was an excellent countermeasure against the two-front war against the Korean Empire, in which the Japanese Empire was plotting and conspiring with the Beiyang government.

This was because by supporting the revolutionaries and anti-Yuan Shikai warlords in southern China, it was possible to weaken the Beiyang government and the Yuan Shikai warlords who supported them, and thus it could become a very important turning point that could break the two-front strategy that Japan had been preparing since the last war.

“If Sun Yat-sen succeeds, we will have a friendly neighbor and will be able to escape the oppression of the Japanese Empire. Even if he fails, it will deal a huge blow to the Beiyang government, so we have nothing to lose.”

“···Do you think he will fail, Director?”

“Well, I can’t guarantee whether he will succeed or fail. But I can help him deal the greatest possible blow to Yuan Shikai and his bastards.”

He smiled as he recalled the plans he had previously made with Chief of Operations Kim Si-hyuk.

“If we send ground forces to the Yongji and Jinzhou areas to tie down the main force of the Beiyang Clan and block the Yuan Shikai fleet in Tianjin with our fleet, that alone will be of great help.”

Jo Dong-yoon continued his speech while hastily sending a telegram to Sinuiju and Andong.

“So the battle should end here. There is no need to reveal our hostility to them more than necessary, and we do not want to give Sun Yat-sen the impression that we want something more than Manchuria.”

If they started to attack Yeongdeungpo anyway, Russia and Japan, who still needed firewood, would quickly demand a ceasefire under the pretext of mediation, so it would be the most beautiful picture if both sides backed down at this point.

“Once that bastard Yuan Shikai falls, then we’ll have a chance to hunt Jang Zhuo Lin.”

Shin Gyu-sik soon gave up after calculating how far his superior’s schemes extended. He figured that since he had that much brains, he would probably be called the unsung hero of the last war.

In any case, the Korean Empire was able to resolve the Manchurian problem in the future and build new alliances to counter the strategies pursued by the Japanese Empire.

And the existence of this alliance would soon be revealed to the world.