Chapter 151
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Moving Powder Keg (3)
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[British Dominion of Canada Swallows North America!]
[The British Empire's Endless Expansion! Russia in Hot Pursuit! Where Should Our Nation Turn?]
[Russia-Qing Conflict Finally Surfaces? The Shifting Landscape of Northeast Asia!]
If Russia was the nation sick with envy over the British Empire's expansion, there was another nation whose guts were twisting at the sight of Russia.
That nation was none other than France.
Having just managed to catch its breath after dealing with the ceaseless domestic issues that had erupted since Napoleon, what was all this?
It was bad enough being overshadowed by the British Empire, but now Russia was strutting about as if it were Europe's second-in-command.
For France, which had long wielded immense influence in Europe as Britain's eternal rival, this was deeply unsettling.
Moreover, while its national power had waned slightly after the Napoleonic Wars, France's current strength was by no means weak.
It was a well-known fact that France was a great power, not far behind Russia, its frequent passive stance merely a result of being bogged down by domestic political issues.
At least, that was what King Louis-Philippe of France and his loyal subjects all believed.
Had they not annexed Algeria over a decade ago, and were they not still establishing more colonies in Africa?
With France also on the verge of ratifying a trade treaty after pressuring the Qing Dynasty, its confidence was steadily growing.
While Louis-Philippe himself was known for his generous and gentlemanly demeanor, the factions supporting him argued for a more expansionist course to maintain their hold on power.
After all, contemporary France was a veritable hellscape where supporters of constitutional monarchy, absolute monarchy, and democratic republicanism were entangled in endless debates, with violence erupting at every turn.
In such a climate, the only sure way to firmly establish the regime was to display the might of Grand France to the entire world.
“Your Majesty. We have already confirmed through the British that Russia intends to go to war with the Qing Dynasty. If we stand by, Russia will surely swallow Qing territory.”
“Is there no chance of the Qing defeating Russia?”
“Considering the disgraceful display the Qing put on during their last war with Britain, I believe it would be impossible. If Russia wins this, it will be difficult to stop their expansion through Asia.”
“So, after Britain, Russia too begins to expand. What is the opinion of the Assembly?”
Although the ruling and opposition parties were locked in a complex struggle, the king was not the only one feeling anxious about the British Empire's dramatic rise.
As expected, Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Marshal General of the French Army and current Prime Minister, was quick to speak.
“There is no division between the parties in the Assembly on the need for France to act swiftly. I believe it is necessary to immediately dispatch a diplomatic head to Britain to coordinate our positions.”
“However, I was told that Britain has already consented to Russia taking the Primoriye region. Doesn't that mean Britain has no intention of intervening in this war between the Qing and Russia? And we, too, have no justification to intervene in their war. Not unless the Qing requests our aid.”
“That is correct. Indeed, sending a fleet to that distant Far East to fight a bloody battle with Russia over land of little value is not a wise decision. Therefore, we must use this opportunity to seize other nations in Asia.”
Since becoming Prime Minister, Soult had always been cautious to avoid making political enemies, but the current public opinion in France rendered such caution unnecessary.
*You are all fools making incorrect arguments. I alone am right.*
*If your thoughts differ from mine, and I smash your head in, it is your fault, not mine.*
This was the genuine mindset of the French people of the era, who fought day in and day out. Yet, even they could not tolerate the idea of France being trampled under the feet of Britain or Russia.
—Look over there! The Brits are starting to devour the whole world, and Russia is right behind them, but we're the only ones falling behind. Let's plant our flags in Africa and Asia first, and then we can go back to fighting amongst ourselves!
Ironically, the butterfly effect of the British Empire's acquisition of the entire Pacific was beginning to manifest in various places much faster than expected.
Whether it becomes a democratic republic or a constitutional monarchy, can't that be decided after France expands its territory to rival Britain or Russia?
The citizens' fervor for territorial expansion and the Assembly, which had temporarily set aside its conflicts to unite for this cause, began to search frantically for a country where France could intervene.
And the result.
“There is a precedent of the Nguyễn dynasty in Vietnam brutally executing our missionaries in the past.”
“Vietnam is a land of dense jungles and prone to endemic diseases, but its long coastline makes it an excellent gateway for expansion into Asia.”
“Vietnam is a tributary state of the Qing, but with the Qing engaged in a war with Russia, it is safe to assume they will be unable to intervene in Vietnam.”
Establishing a foothold in Vietnam would make it easier to exert influence in Asia, so there was no reason to refuse.
Crucially, they had the pretext of brutally executed missionaries, and more importantly, Britain was currently focused on Canada and would likely lack the capacity to interfere.
“Then let us immediately send a letter to the Nguyễn dynasty, sternly questioning them about their past atrocities. It would also be wise to inform the British Empire of the legitimacy of our intervention in Vietnam and secure their promise not to interfere. Minister Guizot, would you be able to undertake this task once more?”
“Of course. I will depart for London at once and settle the matter with the British.”
Barely a week.
As soon as news of the conflict between Russia and the Qing broke, France, which had been lying in wait for an opportunity, immediately bared its claws toward Asia.
***
Well, look at how things are unfolding.
Did the flap of a butterfly's wings in the Americas truly stir up a colossal, blinding typhoon in the distant lands of Asia?
To be honest, calling it a mere flap of a butterfly's wings was a massive understatement of the harvest.
For the British Empire, which had already secured India, to now swallow the heart of North America, bypassing the United States—how envious and bitter must the other great powers have felt?
I had anticipated that France and Russia would make a move.
But I couldn't deny they were acting a bit more swiftly than I had predicted.
The British Parliament, too, was naturally on high alert, carefully calculating the potential impact of Russia and France's movements.
However, while ceding Primoriye to Russia was one thing, predicting where Russia would leap next was incredibly difficult.
With France now also involved, trying to stake its claim in Asia, the politicians' heads must be spinning.
The capable minds of the British Empire would undoubtedly find the best possible solution, but it is human nature to prefer an easier, faster path when one is available.
Especially since in our British Empire, there was a prominent figure who came to mind whenever Asia was mentioned. When trouble brewed in that direction, it was only natural for his name to be called.
And just as I expected, a letter from Wellesley arrived faster than anyone else's.
In short, it said that a flurry of communications was coming in from Asia, so could I please attend Parliament and offer my esteemed opinion? And since France also had matters to discuss, would I mind handling that as well?
My days were already busy with Canadian affairs, but what could I do when the motherland made such a request?
As a man overflowing with patriotism, I must gladly answer my country's call.
The moment I received the letter, I boarded a ship for London. By the time I returned to the home country, fierce debates were already raging in Parliament, and the French Foreign Minister, Guizot, had already visited London.
“So, what did France have to say?”
“What else would they say? Just that they're green with envy that we've taken so much land. So they want to take Vietnam, and they're telling us not to interfere. That was the gist of it.”
Facing his first major international dispute since becoming Prime Minister, Wellesley looked a bit more haggard than when I had last seen him.
His future reputation could swing to either extreme depending on how he handled this, so it was only natural for his mind to be preoccupied.
“But what difference will it make if I speak before Parliament?”
“...Right now, the Prince Consort's popularity within the country is immense. The Qing Dynasty, Canada—wherever you've been involved, you've achieved incredible results in a short time. Moreover, the fact that you carry the blood of the Asian royalty at the center of this controversy is now public knowledge. Naturally, many citizens want to know your reaction.”
“I suspect there’s more to it than just that.”
“Yes, there is. We recently received a message from the Governor-General of Shanghai. Joseon has been asked by the Qing to dispatch reinforcements, but they say they don't have the capacity. They've requested that we mediate with Russia for them.”
When I leaked the information that Russia was eyeing Primoriye, I had hoped for a reaction like this, but isn't this a bit too predictable?
I got the impression that Kim Jwa-geun was sharp when I met him. Was I mistaken?
Or perhaps the time for him to become the real power in the government hadn't arrived yet, so this request might have been made without his input.
“How does Parliament intend to respond?”
“There's no reason to refuse, is there? We did say we wouldn't interfere if Russia had the capability to take Primoriye, but our promise was limited to Primoriye alone. We must, of course, prevent Joseon from falling to Russia. Above all, we have the perfect justification for intervention: the fact that the Prince Consort is of Joseon royal blood.”
Uh, well. No matter how I think about it, that's definitely a fabrication, but I suppose it's best to put on a thick skin and be as shameless as possible here, right?
Besides, I never once asked them to fabricate it.
“Of course. The Asian sphere places a particularly strong emphasis on bloodlines. Unlike in Europe, where royal families are intermingled, the royal houses of Asia are rooted solely in their own nations, representing their identity and pride. So, with a bit of exaggeration, one could say that from Joseon's perspective, the British Empire is a brother nation.”
“To stand by and watch a brother suffer is not the way of a decent human being. In that case, we shall take responsibility for brokering a non-aggression treaty between Joseon and Russia.”
“Yes. As long as the Russians know my origins, they won't be keen on pointing their guns at Joseon. They aren't foolish enough not to realize that it would give the British Empire a perfect pretext to intervene.”
Since Russia has no intention of fighting Joseon unless provoked first, securing a non-aggression pact between the two would be effortless.
Besides, we wouldn't even be dispatching troops, so it would cost us nothing.
In other words, we could claim all the credit without spending a single penny.
“Then let's send a reply to Joseon telling them to trust in us. I will seek Parliament's approval at once.”
“Yes. Please convey that Killian Yi Gore Hanover will personally guarantee the peace between the two nations.”
Just saying the name out loud makes my skin crawl, but what can you do?
When it comes to matters involving Joseon, there's no better cheat code that works so instantly.
“Wait. On that note, couldn't we also pull Japan into this and take credit? Then, to them...”
“No. Since the request came only from Joseon, we should focus on brokering a non-aggression treaty between just Joseon and Russia. Then, Japan will naturally start to sweat, and they'll beg us to arrange a non-aggression treaty for them as well.”
Japan's strategy for checking Russia before it became a great power was to use Joseon as a shield.
If that shield were to suddenly slip away, Japan, still lacking in strength, would have no choice but to panic.
Rather than making the first move and looking desperate, waiting for them to come to us begging is the easier path to extracting concessions.
“Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Then we shall wait for Japan to make the first proposal. At that time...”
“We'll just say that Killian Tokugawa Gore Hanover will guarantee the peace between Japan and Russia.”
“Ah, so it's Tokugawa over there? Hahahaha, I understand. I will be sure to give a strict warning so they don't get confused.”
Wellesley couldn't contain his laughter and burst out as he left.
What's so funny about my name changing from country to country?
What an irreverent Prime Minister.
Still, I'll let it slide this once.
To be honest, even I'm not sure I could keep a straight face seeing that name stamped on an official document...