Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 383



Only Noblemtl

#2-39. The End of Peace (1)

“Is there any guarantee that the promises made now will be kept in the future?”

“If the teacher starts a revolution and Yunnan declares independence, our government will also join in and make a declaration. Our Daehan and Sun Yat-sen are already in the same boat.”

If Sun Yat-sen ultimately refused to provide support to this extent… … He was a little afraid of what they would think.

Perhaps he would find someone else, not himself, to arrange a second or third revolution. What the future of the Republic of China could gain by doing so… I couldn’t think of anything.

“The time has come to make the past century of shame and humiliation a thing of the past. And we can help you do it. But only if you keep your promises.”

Perhaps greater chaos and civil war awaited them. In that case, it might have been better for Sun Yat-sen himself to accept their proposal at a high price and pay it.

In exchange for giving them what they wanted, they were trading away their precious present and future.

Of course, I still couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease in my heart. However, when I thought of the Chinese people who were suffering under Yuan Shikai and his warlords, I couldn’t delay even for a moment.

“…turn the downfall of the past hundred years into the past.”

“It is really difficult to make the downfall a thing of the past. But there is one big difference between the past thousands of years and the present. No matter how many kings and ministers there were in the past, they are no longer. Times are changing, and the wave of free people will sweep away their petty greed without a trace.”

As the thought crossed his mind, he sighed and stood up, slamming his fist on the table.

“Very well. If we have to punish the enemy of the revolution, Yuan Shikai, then this kind of deal is necessary. But know this. We will sell Manchuria to you at a very high price. And with it, we will buy a bright future for our Republic of China and its people.”

Shin Gyu-sik said with a bitter smile. Still, he was assigned to the Records Research Office of the Korean Empire, and as the head of the 10th Division in charge of gathering information on China, he had to pay for the salary he received.

“It won’t be long before the flames rise from Yunnan Province. And then to Sichuan, Guangxi, and Guangdong… … .”

“… and that flame will brighten the continent groaning under the dark order.”

Sun Yat-sen spoke with his fists clenched. He stood up again, showing his strong will.

“Yuan Shikai is the enemy of you and the entire 400 million Chinese people, but he is also our enemy. Our government will help you and your comrades no matter what happens, so please don’t worry and focus on your future work.”

As if trying to ease his anxiety, Shin Gyu-sik took something out of his bosom.

“What is this?”

“These are the dagger and the pistol that my superior, General Cho Dong-yoon, gave you as a gift. He told me to use these to punish the enemies of the revolution.”

“… At least your country is truly sincere about our revolution.”

Sun Yat-sen carefully took hold of the belt he had held out, with the bloodletting and dagger hanging from it. The heavy metal pieces, made of leather and ugly but essential to the revolution and the defense of the country, felt heavy.

“I don’t know what awaits me at the end of that future, but let’s go there together.”

“Very well, Mr. Sun Yat-sen. May the friendship between the Korean Empire and the Republic of China await us at the edge of the future.”

Shin Gyu-sik extended his hand to Sun Moon, who took it silently and exchanged glances.

I finally held it, remembering the things that had happened since I had taken his hand, and the sacrifices he had to make along the path he must walk.

In this way, behind the scenes of diplomacy, a new spark that could illuminate the dark order was slowly burning.

***

“Lord Yamagata, this time we must step back.”

“Would you like to say that in front of a group of angry young military officers?”

Even on the day that the peace treaty was signed between the Korean Empire and the Republic of China, Prime Minister Saionji was sweating bullets trying to persuade Yamagata, the leader of the army.

“Didn’t I explain it to you, Lord Yamagata? The Korean army surpassed our expectations and reduced Jangjakrim to a state of near-death. Even if we intervene militarily in this situation, there’s nothing to be gained.”

“hmm.”

Yamagata was equally embarrassed. He had deployed a considerable number of advisors to the Jangjakrim Army in preparation for such a situation, but even they were cut off from the connection, and all his plans were ruined.

The 19th Division, the 20th Division, and the 1st Fleet’s sortie were all going nowhere. As things turned out this way, anger was slowly rising among the young officers.

“There is only one person who can quell the discontent of the army, Lord Yamagata.”

“What strength would I have now that I am old?”

“Within today, South Korea and China will sign a peace treaty. Thanks to their agreement to receive full compensation for the damages we have suffered, there is no room for us to intervene militarily.”

Yamagata even considered resorting to the worst of the worst measures, such as claiming that the Republic of China was not properly compensating the Japanese settlements for the damages, but even that was blocked.

This was because in the peace treaty with Korea, the Republic of China accepted a plan to separately provide compensation for Japanese settlements that had suffered damage during the war, in addition to the compensation payments.

“The General Staff is either calling up the reserves or not… … .”

“We have nothing to gain by going to war with Korea now. Rather, it is clear that the grain ban and gold export restrictions will seriously overload our economy. How can we have war in this situation?”

Saionji desperately tried to persuade him. However, the Navy, which could be considered relatively moderate, pretended not to be able to resist Saionji’s earnest persuasion, and barely managed to calm them down by making a deal to have some Navy generals be pushed into the next cabinet, but the Choshu guys were in a completely different situation.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no way at all, Prime Minister. There is one way, though.”

“What is that?”

“We are handing over the position of the next Prime Minister to our Army.”

Yamagata spoke to Saionji without even blinking an eyebrow. And he knew very well what this meant.

“… Lord Yamagata, do you know what this proposal means?”

“I know. That is why I am proposing. A way to control the discontented army.”

Unlike the Navy, which had suffered relatively little damage in the previous war, the Army, which had suffered near-annihilation throughout the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria, was gripped by a rage bordering on paranoia.

They were fiercely criticizing the civilian officials for not only not actively helping their war effort, but also being subservient to Joseon now that the war was over.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the assassination of Ito and the terror attacks against numerous moderate officials were both committed by the army and Choshu clan.

In such a situation, Saionji was barely able to maintain a balance by walking a tightrope between the civilian cabinet, the navy, and the army.

In this situation, the proposal Yamagata made was also dangerous, as it could upset the entire balance.

“Didn’t you give consideration to the Army and Navy when exercising the Cabinet’s personnel authority at the request of Lord Yamagata?!”

This time, Saionji got angry and shouted, but in return he was met with Yamagata’s gaze as cold as a dagger.

“Oh, of course, Prime Minister. The decree on the abolition of active-duty military officers by the Minister of the Armed Forces was certainly true.”

The military’s influence was unavoidable in forming a cabinet. When a person critical of or hostile to the military entered the cabinet, the Army and Navy would growl at each other, but then, as if nothing had happened, they would not recommend candidates for the Minister of the Army and the Minister of the Navy, thereby deliberately obstructing the formation of a government.

As a result, many of the cabinet members were from the military, and even the ministerial posts that were supposed to be filled by civilian officials were filled by them.

Even General Katsura Taro, a Choshu native of the same faction who had formed a cabinet with Saionji, was forced to resign due to his advanced age after falling out of favor with Yamamoto, showing just how powerful he was.

“But that alone is not enough to appease their anger. For example, if we recommend an army general for the next prime minister position, I think we can appease them a little.”

Ultimately, this meant that the Army would have everything under its control. If that happened, the little control that civilian officials had over the military would collapse, and only the Navy would be able to keep them in check.

‘The Navy is definitely not the most docile of men, but… … .’

As Saionji thought, the Navy was not very obedient to the government. It was more obedient than the Army, but when viewed separately, it was a very difficult organization for civilian officials to deal with.

It has long been the norm for them to rush in and demand the same treatment if the Army is given even the slightest advantage.

“Oh, of course, I am no longer interested in politics. Instead, I think it would be nice to recommend excellent successors, Prime Minister.”

He smiled and poured steaming green tea into a cup.

“…Who are you thinking of next?”

“Hmm, we have to find someone who can overcome this unprecedented national crisis. How about Field Marshal Terauchi, who is highly respected within the army? He should be able to appease the dissatisfied elements.”

Terauchi-ra. Saionji barely held back a sigh. To put it simply, he was a person who blatantly ignored the ‘constitutional’ aspect that was maintaining the political system of the Japanese Empire.

If such a person were to ascend to the position of Prime Minister, it would no longer be possible to predict how the Japanese Empire would proceed in the future.

He was also known as a hardliner on that issue, and there were several instances where the Korean government, enraged by his gaffes when he was appointed Foreign Minister, summoned the Japanese ambassador to Korea and protested vehemently.

But Saionji had no choice. In order to stop the army’s rampage, he had no choice but to grab the rope he offered.

“… Good, Lord Yamagata.”

“When the date of the cabinet’s resignation is set, let me know. I will send you a bottle of my good wine.”

Saionji barely made it out of his house, feeling as if he was hallucinating the sound of Yamagata’s laughter.

“Where should the Japanese Empire go?”

He muttered to himself and got into the car that was waiting for him. When his subordinate asked him how he was, he simply shook his head and told him to go to the Prime Minister’s residence, falling into deep thought.

But the conclusion of such worries was only one. In a situation where the present of the Japanese Empire had to be saved immediately, worrying about the future was a luxury.

‘Somehow it’ll work out… … .’

He held his aching head and looked at the horizon where the sun was slowly setting. Somehow, the Japanese flag fluttering in the distance seemed to be waving a little more sadly today.