Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 397



Only Noblemtl

#2 Part 7. Proposal from the Far East (2)

In addition, the paralysis of transportation also greatly hindered the Russian Empire’s war effort. The railway network in the western region, which could be called the heart of the double-headed eagle, was already saturated with war. Since the entire railway network, which could be called the blood vessel of the empire, was blocked, it would not have been strange for it to gradually die from the ends.

Naturally, the supply of materials to the front returned to the level of the war against Napoleon. A war correspondent covering the Russian front described the situation of the Russian army as follows.

They say that huge trains of wagons carrying bread for the soldiers and hay for the horses stretch for miles, and on rainy days, the horses and workers pulling the wagons struggle to move forward in the mud, screaming.

“Even if Stolypin were alive, there would have been no way to solve this. This is not a problem that can be solved by individual ability alone. Many workers and peasants are worried about how they will survive this winter. Food production has already plummeted by more than 20% compared to last year.”

“It’s the same with the Habsburgs. It’ll be a little painful, but if everyone sticks together and gets through this crisis-”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The soldiers on the front line are barely surviving on a handful of oats. How can they hear something like this?”

Of course, the same was true of Austria-Hungary, but it was not a situation that was noticeable.

“And that’s not all. More than 6 million refugees have already poured into the mainland from Poland and Lithuania. Soon, there could be a famine due to epidemics and grain shortages.”

There was a murmur among the ministers. As they said, the immediate concern was not victory, but rather survival: would they have to survive this winter by eating turnips and oats?

“There are also concerns in the Douma that the monetary system will completely collapse. Something needs to be done about it!”

In 1914, 40% of the budget was in deficit, and with the front lines in such bad shape and the need to pay for weapons purchased overseas, an unprecedented situation could have occurred where a deficit of 76-80% of the total budget would have to be covered over the next two years.

The court was in a state of war over the two-headed eagle, which was in a pinch both militarily and economically. Policies and claims that each side believed were right were exchanged, and soon, even in the presence of the Tsar, shouting began to erupt.

And the Tsar waved his hands and cried out that all this was useless.

“Enough! Now, all of you step aside.”

“Your Majesty, if we do not find a solution here, we will never be able to drive out these Germans! It will be painful and difficult, but we must gather our forces again, gather arms and ammunition from our allies and friends, and if possible, send troops to drive them out!”

“I told you to step back.”

The Tsar made a low gesture, and they had to obey the command of the stern two-headed eagle. As everyone was leaving the court in a dignified manner, his voice was heard following him.

“Foreign Minister, please stay for a moment. I have something to discuss.”

“All right.”

Foreign Minister Sazanov nodded and stopped walking outside, looking at the Tsar with a distorted expression. Perhaps it was time to take the proposal from the Far East seriously.

***

“Is it really true that accepting their offer is the only way?”

“Your Majesty, we have reached a point where we can no longer delay. Negotiations are necessary, but ultimately we will have no choice but to accept their offer.”

“… My pride is so hurt. It makes my reputation in the Far East and my joy at being called the Steamroller of the East seem meaningless.”

The Tsar grumbled and revealed his true feelings to Sazanov, who was classified as a moderate in foreign relations. It was understandable, since he was now completely backed into a corner and there was no way to break the situation or turn the unfavorable situation around.

The war also dealt a severe blow to Russia’s developing industrial capacity. In 1914, in order to hastily fill the void left by the 300,000 casualties in Galicia that were more severe than expected, most of the conscripts were drawn from the cities, but the problem was that most of these were skilled factory workers and mine workers.

The loss of manpower at that time was a painful blow that had a meaning beyond numbers, especially considering that only 33,000 people were working in chemical-related factories.

Russia, which had suffered a serious industrial blow, was barely able to produce high-explosive bombs needed for the front lines and was only continuing to produce shrapnel bombs.

If it had not been for the Picric acid, artillery equipment, and ammunition exported by Japan, the Russian army would have been completely pushed back without even enjoying its long-standing artillery superiority over the Austro-Hungarian army.

No, even if there had been, it was too late to use it now. Policies that should have been implemented by October 1914 at the latest were only being discussed in the spring of 1915. Of course, just as there is a hole to escape from even if the sky falls, there was a lifeline for them.

However, the pride that was as great as the size of the Russian Empire was too great to readily accept it. It was even more so to receive it from a small country that had claimed itself as their fence.

“But their proposals are very attractive to us and at the same time very urgent. When we recall the situation in which our Russian Empire finds itself now, we are not in a position to distinguish between sweet and bitter, and questions of pride… … .”

And it began with a secret telegram from the Emperor of the Korean Empire, who had previously claimed to be their own fence and had been developing rapidly since the war.

In August 1914, right after the Battle of Tannenberg, the Korean Empire, recalling its friendship with the Russian Empire, declared war on Germany and formally requested the dispatch of troops to the Tsar in the name of the Emperor.

The pretext was sufficient: it was to avenge the destruction of a Korean-made rifle regiment, one of the first mobilized units of the Siberian Corps under General Samsonov in the Battle of Tannenberg.

At that time, the units mobilized from the Siberian region for battle were not only annihilated but literally annihilated, with only a few survivors.

Accordingly, the Emperor of the Korean Empire put forth the following conditions: by the end of 1915, he would mobilize 100,000 troops to Galicia, and by providing equipment and material support to the three corps of the Siberian Army that had been destroyed, including the Korean units destroyed in the aftermath of the Battle of Tannenberg, he would directly assist the Russian army in its counterattack.

If this could be done, it would certainly be possible for the Russian army to quickly form a reserve force of about 400,000 men in the Far East before 1916. However, even in 1914, when the first proposal was made, optimism prevailed among the Russian imperial court and cabinet, and this was politely rejected.

In particular, as the then Minister of War Sukhomlinov had boasted, the fighting power of the Russian Imperial Army was still considered strong, and wartime mobilization was going well, so the proposal of the Korean Empire could not be considered anything other than something worth paying attention to.

“But their conditions were so absurd.”

There were also conditions that were outrageous. This was the case not only for the Tsar but also for Sazanov.

The Korean Empire, a small country in the Far East, dared to be ungrateful, and, as if receiving the Tsar’s glorious favor, had defeated the Japonskis and maintained its independence, and had received a piece of the indigestible pie called South Manchuria, it also requested, in exchange for its participation in the war, that the regions maintained by the Government-General of the Far East be handed over in sequence until 1920.

Even the Japonskis were taking advantage of their own crisis to show their prowess at a time when they were declaring war in order to improve relations with Russia.

“They are only offering to build four corps in the Far East. They are offering to trade four corps for the Governor-General’s Office in the Far East… … .”

“It may be a bit excessive to ask for the handover of all territory of the Governor-General of the Far East, but that was in 1914. If it had not been for the defeat in 1914, it would have been just four corps, as Your Majesty said.”

Sazanov was extremely resentful of Sukhomlinov for having brought the situation to this point, but punishing him now would not solve the situation in which he was in a defensive position. He felt that he had to coax and cajole them into getting all the support they could muster and send them to the front.

There had already been internal discussions with the new Minister of War, Polivanov.

“But for us in April 1915, when we were on the brink of defeat, it meant something different. Now it was no different from an offer to support four corps. It was quite conceivable that they would send and reorganize four corps and 400,000 men who could prevent our defeat.”

“Isn’t that just a play on words? And they’re using our crisis to weigh things. Are you going to just let this happen?!”

The Tsar’s roar was heard as the Winter Palace was about to depart, and the echoes were heard. Instead of answering, Sazanov waited until his excitement had subsided.

“… I just told you that the value they proposed varies greatly depending on our situation. We cannot sacrifice Minsk and Kiev to protect Lushun, Dalian, and Mukden.”

Sazanov answered calmly. Although the Tsar heard that his words were somewhat ambiguous, it was not a story that could be completely ignored. No matter how much the vast territory of Lushun and Dalian, as well as the core areas of the Far East Governor-General, Mukden (Fengtian) and Harbin (Harbin), seemed like Altolan, it was the value that the Russian Empire could have had when it was intact.

Everyone knew that after the war was lost, it would become nothing. They just tried to ignore it so as not to dare mention the defeat out loud.

“Moreover, their proposals were not limited to the dispatch of troops. They also absolutely needed strategic resources such as pyrite, which we are absolutely lacking, exclusive exports of rifles, ammunition, and various parts, and financial agreements to maintain the value of our plummeting currency.”

“They are just a small nation. They are nothing compared to our vast empire.”

“As Your Majesty said, although the Korean Empire is a very small country compared to us, its industry and economy are developing rapidly day by day. In particular, the vast amount of gold and natural resources they produce can be of great help to our Russian Empire. We must never show off their capabilities.”

Sazanov recalled a report he had received a while ago. The terminus of the great Trans-Siberian Railway was not Harbin. It was quite helpful to Russia that it was connected to Busan, a port city in the far south, via the Gyeongui Line and Gyeongbu Line in Korea via the Eastern China Railway.

“And the Trans-Siberian Railway, which connects Korea, also adds to their value. Unlike other countries’ goods that must be transported by sea, their goods can be transported directly to the center of our empire. The Maritime Province is also directly connected to Vladivostok, making the movement of goods easy, Your Majesty.”

“But aren’t they trying to sell it to us at a high price? Just as Kyung said.”

As the Tsar said, the problem was Korea’s delicate position. They were proposing demands that were out of proportion to their status, acting like charlatans who had seized the opportunity.

Sazanov did not like the Korean royal family, who tried to play tricks on them by taking advantage of their war, nor their cabinet and military, who maintained neutrality by applying coldly rational standards.

However, I hesitated for a moment, thinking that if I bowed my head and gave them whatever they wanted, as they stretched out their hands, the prestige of a great nation would be damaged.

And then, then, all of a sudden, an ingenious idea occurred to him.