Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 382



Only Noblemtl

#2-38. Behind Diplomacy (6)

“A wise choice, Special Envoy. Well, we don’t intend to be so harsh. We want to have friendly relations with our neighbors, not war.”

Then, Lee Yong-ik handed him a negotiation proposal that had been prepared in advance. Jo Yeo-rim, who briefly sighed at Lee Yong-ik’s words, soon could not hide her shock that made her eyes pop out.

“Our conditions are three-fold. First, we will set the compensation at 12 million won, and it will be paid with compound interest of 4.5% for 15 years. Second, we will strictly control Chinese immigration to the South. Third, we demand that those responsible for this incident be severely punished. That is all.”

“What, what did you say? 10 million won in compensation?!”

“Instead, we will not take customs duties, tobacco taxes, or salt taxes as collateral. We will not demand territory separately. However, you must pay 2 million won in a lump sum in 1914, and the remaining 10 million won will be paid in installments over 15 years.”

Lee Yong-ik shrugged and handed them the treaty.

“This, this is… … .”

“Or else our forces will advance to Shanhaiguan. Considering that your country has engaged in war eight times in the past two years, aren’t these very reasonable conditions?”

Of course, unlike other powers that could have exploited them even more if they had been in the same situation, their conditions were relatively moderate.

Because we do not want to cede territory, expand the leased territory, and do not want to touch the tax system of the Republic of China.

But the specific demands for compensation, the newly minted silver coins, were chilling. I couldn’t tell exactly what they wanted, but it was clear that they wanted to ruin their economic reforms.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. 12 million won is quite a burden even for us. The average amount of new silver coins minted each month is around 50 million won. Aren’t you asking for around 20% of that?”

Not only is it not easy to secure silver supply right now, but the value of silver bullion needed to mint silver coins has also risen so much that even the government is worried.

“Haha, as I said before, this is not something you can receive all at once. Two million won of this is to be paid immediately, and the rest is to be paid in installments over 15 years with an interest rate of 4.5%. However, you will have to pay compensation separately for the damages suffered by the Korean and Japanese settlement residents in this invasion.”

They are talking as if they are being considerate, but this is a story at the same level as the compensation determination at the time of the last new construction treaty.

Interest is interest, but the fact that silver coins, which were real currency, were regularly taken out of the country at a time when the legal tender of the Republic of China should have been expanded was also a huge loss. In the end, it was no different from the problem of silver itself flowing out.

“… Separately, the punishment for Jangjakrim should have been handled according to the laws of the Korean Empire. However, since it is an administrative matter under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China, your country should take responsibility and handle it… … .”

As Lee Yong-ik continued to talk excitedly, detailing his specific requirements, Jo Yeo-rim’s expression gradually hardened.

They said that they would exercise their sovereignty over their territory only in accordance with the Treaty of Portsmouth, so they could be seen as better than other powers who were obsessed with territorial greed.

But at some point he could taste a very sharp, very bitter malice.

“The compensation of 12 million won is too much. It would be better to reduce it to a more reasonable amount… … .”

Still, as if she couldn’t give up, Jo Yeo-rim tried to reduce the compensation by at least 1 million won.

“Instead of compensation, how about giving us leased territory in Tianjin and Shanghai?”

“We don’t care. We are satisfied with just managing South Manchuria for now.”

“Then, handing over the permanent residence to your country is… … .”

“I don’t care about that either. I’m busy managing the territory I have now.”

Although he made suggestions such as granting them vested rights or allowing permanent occupation, Minister Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Lee Yong-ik, who was sitting right in front of him, rejected all such attempts, insisting only on the payment of compensation that he could not back down from.

“No matter what conditions you impose, we cannot reduce the compensation by even a single penny. We have already been invaded eight times, and this is because the Republic of China has not exercised any control or supervision over the border area, so we cannot help but be held responsible for this. Please understand.”

If this was taken back to the home country as it was, it was obvious what would happen. Even without it, they were already in chaos due to the humiliation they suffered externally, such as the Bogd Khanate issue, and they had no choice but to show that they had been defeated even in South Manchuria.

But there weren’t many options. If they didn’t accept this, they wouldn’t have the confidence to stop them when Russia and Japan turned away. Even Japan, whom they trusted, was at the point where they had to accept whatever the Korean Empire offered.

When that happens, France and Germany will plot to expand their respective territories or interests, and Britain will use the excuse of helping to further deepen its economic infiltration.

In the end, they had no choice but to give in to their demands, even if they were cursed at by the 400 million people and condemned as traitors or traitors.

“… Okay. We have no choice but to accept it.”

“That’s a very good decision.”

Ultimately, considering the difference in power and various external circumstances, the Republic of China was in a position where it had no choice but to accept the conditions they demanded.

It wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t completely mild either, but at least it could be ended quietly without any territorial cession.

So, Jo Yeo-rim sat down again and began to coordinate the details of the negotiations, and the peace negotiations between the two sides began to make rapid progress.

And finally, less than three days after the start of negotiations, an agreement between the two sides was announced publicly.

***

“Mr. Shin, this is a completely different story! Compensation? This is a grave insult from the Korean Empire to our China!”

“Please calm down, Mr. Sun Yat-sen.”

Sun Yat-sen, furious, shouted at Shin Gyu-sik, who was welcoming him with a cup of tea in front of him, but somehow his expression was far from bewilderment.

Sun Yat-sen showed him a passage from an English newspaper that said the sharp confrontation over the Manchurian question had finally ended through diplomatic negotiations.

And in that part, it was reported that the Chinese government accepted the punishment and aftermath of the massacre, as well as the disarmament within 20 kilometers of the border.

In addition to this, it was also agreed that 2 million won would be paid as compensation to the Korean Empire immediately by December 1914, and the remaining 10 million won would be paid with a compound interest of 4.5% for 15 years.

Fortunately, there were no territorial cessions or expansion of leased territories, but Sun Yat-sen came out to vehemently protest against this kind of treatment of his country.

But despite his anger, Shin Gyu-sik was looking at him with a very comfortable expression.

“Rather, this will be a tremendous opportunity for you and your comrades.”

“What? This is trampling on our homeland-”

“Your motherland is the Republic of China, not the one that came out of the bayonets of the warlords who ruled with an iron fist under Yuan Shikai?”

Shin Gyu-sik shrugged his shoulders and said. Sun Moon opened his mouth cautiously, though he made a face of uncertainty.

“Please speak so that I can understand.”

“We have paid compensation to Yuan Shikai and his bastards, and we have no intention of holding you and the revolutionary government you will lead responsible.”

“Isn’t that just a play on words? In the end, the damage caused by this compensation will be passed on to our Chinese people!”

“In other words, it can be said that the anger of the masses is directed at Yuan Shikai. In any case, this treaty will become a scrap of paper the moment you succeed in the revolution.”

“Are you just making up stories to silence me?”

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have met you in the first place. But I came here to meet you, Mr. Lee, and I also came out because I needed to explain our government’s keynote at the right time.”

He smiled and slid a document in front of Sun Yat-sen. Sun Yat-sen wondered whether it contained a receipt for his bill or a detailed statement of what he would receive.

His eyes, which had opened the document with an uncomfortable expression, turned to surprise for a moment.

“Is this true?”

“It is true. Our government has decided to support Sun Yat-sen’s revolution with the funds paid by Yuan Shikai.”

Shin Gyu-sik had to smile, but hide the prickly feeling inside.

“All of 12 million won… you mean?”

Rather, he seemed more wary because of the friendly treatment, but the story that followed was enough to completely melt him.

“Yes, sir. With this, we can connect with Major Nozu and gather the weapons, funds, and comrades needed for the revolution from Mitsui & Co. Now, the seeds of the revolution that you can think of are ready.”

Although he said this, his extremely cunning superior, Jo Dong-yoon, said, “It’s good for the sister and good for the brother-in-law, so you can have your cake and eat it too.”

It would take him quite some time to realize that they would be paid in silver coins, and that the funds they were giving to Sun Yat-sen would be in won notes.

In fact, even if you realize it, it is difficult to protest because you cannot deny that they are helping you in both material and spiritual ways.

Not only was the Korean Empire able to make a considerable profit from the price difference between gold convertibility notes and silver coins, but the bonds sold on Sun Yat-sen’s behalf in the Americas and Europe were also bringing in a considerable profit in commissions.

The words of Captain Cho Dong-yoon, who burst into laughter saying that revolution is ultimately a business that involves money, somehow lingered in my mind.

“If Mr. Sun Yat-sen takes full control of the Republic of China and becomes the true master of the continent, our government is willing to forgive the remaining amount of the indemnity from the previous year of the Ox, as well as the entire amount of indemnity arising from the recent Treaty of Jemulpo.”

And Sun Yat-sen could not help but sense the true meaning of these words. This was not pure goodwill. It was, after all, a ‘deal’ between the Korean Empire, which wanted to firmly establish South Manchuria as its own land, and Sun Yat-sen himself.

“…So they want to buy Manchuria from us cheaply.”

“I won’t deny it, sir. But we are not trying to take it away like other imperialist countries. On the contrary, we are giving Manchuria… more value than anyone else.”

Sun Yat-sen thought to himself, “What’s the difference between a cat catching a mouse and saying, ‘Mr. Mouse, may I eat your front paws? But I’ll spare your life.’” Just like other cats, he was licking his lips.

However, it was too important a support for him to simply refuse. It was also true that the Korean Empire government, in return for attempting to separate Korea from Manchuria, provided crucial support by providing the necessary funds and weapons for the revolution, as well as establishing a connection with the French Governor-General of Indochina, which bordered Yunnan Province.