Red Team Formation (2)
The meeting began at 10 in the morning and only concluded after 1 in the afternoon, having gone well past lunch.
“This concludes today’s meeting. Thank you all for your hard work.”
“Thank you, comrades.”
With the cabinet meeting over, everyone except the ministers from the Ministry of Finance and the Military left the room. I let out a long sigh and slumped back against the chair.
As the other officials filed out, the two foreign diplomats who had silently observed our entire meeting from beginning to end turned to me.
“I understand, Mr. President. Despite the nationwide anti-Qing sentiment, Joseon currently lacks the financial capacity to launch long-term external expeditions.”
“Exactly as you observed.”
I winked at the US Minister Foote, who had spoken the words I wanted to hear, and pulled my chair forward.
“What I—and our government and the people—want is precisely that: financial support, and more importantly, to seize justice from the tyrants who would retreat humanity’s glorious civilization by protecting the revolution and overthrowing the cruel feudal monarchy.”
Perhaps my true feelings had slipped out. The two diplomats, startled by my blazing eyes, took turns responding.
“It will cost a great deal of money, Mr. President.”
“...And blood as well.”
“Haha.”
Seeing them express my will and passion too exaggeratedly, I laughed and waved my hand forward.
“I know that too. This is merely a personal sentiment. Inserting personal emotions into national policy is, in other words, an error that only a tyrannical despot of a feudal regime would commit?”
I firmly emphasized the separation of my will from government policy by adding, “Nothing is as important as the people’s blood,” and stood up, walking to the world map on the wall of the office.
An 11-year-old child still found the vast map overwhelming.
On that, Vice Minister of Military Affairs Seo Jae-pil quietly handed me a pointed commander's baton and returned to his seat.
“Let’s look at the map.”
All eyes in the room turned to the map at my words.
Exchanging glances with the two foreigners and military generals in turn, I pointed the commander's baton at the Indochina Peninsula, my light hand resting on my waist, and began to speak.
“Currently, the French expeditionary forces fighting on the Indochina Peninsula have received reinforcements equivalent to three times from the home country. The remaining two are from the Indian and African colonial armies, respectively... .”
Mid-sentence I trailed off, and with a pin I placed one on Tonkin and another on the Hong River Delta in turn.
“The most encouraging trophy for the French expeditionary forces is one Tonkin. Conversely, the most pessimistic news is that the French expeditionary forces have only one Tonkin left.”
The French ambassador Plancy and the military generals nodded at my opinion, but the US Minister Foote and the Finance Minister looked puzzled.
And the one who explained it to me instead was Plancy himself.
“Originally, this Indochina expedition was not a meticulously planned operation by the home government.”
“What do you mean, Ambassador?”
“Please listen to the end of my story first, Minister Foote.”
Plancy, sending a look to Foote, requested that all in the room promise to keep the national secrets and sensitive matters he was about to discuss confidential, and continued.
“It began with the perfect success of a reconnaissance operation by a naval officer, Henri Rivière. It was a success in every sense. He successfully completed the main objective reconnaissance and even occupied Hanoi Castle with a small army. It was an unexpected harvest for the expeditionary fleet and the home government.”
“And that was the seed of disaster.”
“That is correct, Mr. President. We should not have been encouraged by that small success and expanded the operation too hastily.”
While Plancy was explaining, I pinned pins on Lang Son and Cao Bang as well.
“The military clash between our France and Qing China on the Indochina Peninsula dates back to 1873.”
“Huh? Wasn’t the official dispatch of the exploration team in 1881?”
“No, Minister. The dispatch of the exploration team was in '81, but the small-scale battles that expanded from central to northern Indochina had already been ongoing since the late 1870s.”
At that moment, Vice Minister of Military Affairs Seo Jae-pil raised his hand and asked a question.
“We have information in Joseon too. That unit, could it be the Black Flag Army that crossed from Qing China?”
“Correct, General.”
“We know well. Those people, after their leader was defeated by the Beijing government of the Taiping Qing, scattered to various places, plundering and robbing as bandits.”
At the mention of Taiping Qing, the expressions of our cabinet ministers briefly darkened, but soon the clouds cleared.
After all, our new government has thoroughly eradicated the Dongbi faction since before the revolution and prevented the spread of heterodox teachings among the people.
However, only Foote and Plancy, who didn’t know this internal situation, continued with a shrug.
“The Black Flag Army led by Yu Young-bok is a unit that troubles the expeditionary forces with truly cunning and efficient tactics, unlike the existing Vietnamese royal army or Qing army.”
“Did he receive an independent flag from the Qing government?”
“That has not been confirmed yet, Mr. President. However, reports from frontline combat units that their commanders have become more loyal as the years pass have regularly reached headquarters, so it seems likely to be true.”
“So, they were defeated at Lang Son.”
“Yes, you understand it well.”
As I detailed the battles between the French expeditionary forces and Qing China, the French ambassador Plancy asked me with a tense expression.
“If it doesn’t inconvenience me, where is the source of the information-”
Plancy, the French ambassador, signaling caution with the nuance that there might be a spy or collaborator from the French government on this side, I lightly explained.
“Don’t worry, Ambassador. Our Joseon has had a specialized institution for collecting information both domestically and internationally since before the revolution, and I have intermittently heard news of the Indochina expedition. Isn’t that right, Minister of Military Affairs?”
“Yes...?”
Yang Heon-su, the Minister of Military Affairs, with a dazed expression at my lie, asked with his eyes, “Was there such an institution?”
Instead of him, quick-witted Seo Jae-pil hurriedly spoke up.
“Ah, that’s right! Ambassador, you might misunderstand, but our new government, unlike the previous royal court, collects information from various friendly countries, including our own, only in legitimate areas. Directly from the locals, like newspapers or rumors. I say this again out of parental concern, but the unjust information collection and illegal acts of the previous royal court are not being carried out by the current government.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You heard? Our republican government is so busy dealing with illegal acts that the Public Security Committee, which spits fire in our eyes, makes it difficult. And now, espionage between blood allies is out of the question.”
Winking at Seo Jae-pil who took it well, I continued.
“And the last news we received from our government is that the expeditionary forces that completely drove out the Qing army from Hanoi heard that they ran aground at Lang Son. So, what is the current situation-”
“It’s a swamp, Mr. President.”
Plancy, with an expression that he would no longer hide anything between us, answered immediately.
At his appearance, I responded calmly with satisfaction.
“That’s right. Just by looking at this map.”
Yes. The place names I had pinned so far were strategic points where fierce battles were fought and important cities and bridges played crucial roles for both sides.
And currently, the French expeditionary forces that successfully occupied Tonkin and Hanoi are in a stalemate facing the Qing army pushing from Lang Son and Cao Bang.
I pressed the commander's baton on Lang Son and opened my mouth.
“Lang Son is the mouth and anus between the two countries. A thoroughfare where both armies can move freely anywhere.”
“Mr. President, your words are a bit...”
“Ah, my apologies. It was a bit rough.”
I shrugged lightly at Eo Yun-jung, the Vice Minister of Revenue, who was cautioning me, and stroked my still flat chin while speaking.
“Currently, the expeditionary forces will need support troops. For a moment, give the expeditionary forces a rest and send support troops to build fortification lines in Lang Son and Cao Bang in their place.”
“On a large scale too.”
“Correct. On a large scale.”
At that moment, Foote, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, asked with a trembling voice.
“U, Mr. President. Are you thinking of expanding the situation to the southern part of Guangxi Province?”
Foote’s eyes showed concern that the republic’s ambitions might be inner worries, though uncertain.
I nodded my head to match him.
“You know well. If possible, I want to sweep through southern Qing China by following the French expeditionary forces and intervening with one or two hands.”
“But Mr. President.”
Then Foote wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and expressed his worries.
“If that happens, the war will sink into a swamp. If the Qing really declares full-scale war-”
“That’s exactly what I desire.”
“Huh?”
“Hah, what do you mean?”
“Mr. President...?”
Despite the terrifying answer, everyone showed surprised expressions at my endlessly light voice.
Wanting to expand the war?
Is that the kind of thing a new government leader who has just barely recovered from domestic chaos and barely seized power would say?
Surprised that I hadn’t imagined it, I said to them who were subtly shaking their heads as if not believing what they saw on my face.
“Britain must intervene. This is part of my plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“They will end the war for us.”
I declared boldly to the meeting participants with confident eyes.
“They currently want to protect their own trade markets within the stable Qing. Would those people sit idly by as the expeditionary forces and our revolutionary forces pour into the southern provinces where Qing’s major coastal cities, settlements, treaty ports, and leased territories are concentrated?”
“...”
The Finance Minister looked hesitant at my plan, but the military and the two foreigners nodded with expressions that it had some logic.
“What’s important here is the United States’ will and intervention, Minister Foote.”
“Me? But our home government currently has no intention of participating in the war-”
“Ah, I didn’t mean for you to send troops.”
I cut off Foote’s concern immediately.
“Your role is to stoke the fire in the hearth. Not the war.”
“Yes?”
“It means to set fire with wet wood. That’s what I mean.”
I spouted words without explanation to him, and immediately went to the table, pulled out several sheets of paper, and began writing something on them.
It was the timeline of our plan.
“This is important in order. We must pressure Qing China with unified diplomacy at the same time as physical means and seize victory at the negotiation table.”
“Physical means and unified diplomacy?”
“Yes. Here, physical power is us advancing our army to the northern Indochina, alternating with the expeditionary forces, wiping out resistance forces within the peninsula until the expeditionary forces occupy Guangxi Province, and maintaining the front line from Black Flag Army attacks.”
“Hmm, the offensive is entirely by France, and the rest of the support is taken on by the Korean army, is that the plan?”
“That is so.”
I drew an X over the word Guangxi Province and continued.
“Our only goal is Guangxi Province. After occupying this place, we will lie down to the Qing and request negotiations. However, it will be the Qing coming to negotiations due to Britain’s insistence because they have become impatient, not because of us.”
“What if they don’t come?”
At Foote’s question, I laughed and said.
“The Beiyang Fleet and the Southern Fleet have been destroyed.”
“That is correct, Mr. President.”
“Then it’s over. The Beiyang Fleet can’t leave the Yellow Sea.”
I moved back to the map and explained.
“You Europeans and our republican ministers may not understand, but currently, the internal situation of Qing China is different from that of a normal country.”
“In what way?”
“Their ethnic composition is two-pronged. Han or Manchu. And the Beiyang Fleet is the Manchu army led by the Han. That is, the head and body doing the work are Han, but the target of loyalty is the Manchu.”
However, the attendees who didn’t understand my words asked me to explain further with bewildered expressions, and I returned to the role of educator for the first time in a while and said.
“Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang, is a loyal minister of Qing in good words, but he is a warlord. And the core of a warlord is the army he owns. Without an army, he can’t make money or build power. Everything is connected.”
“Then, ah! Could it be that the power of the Minister of Beiyang-”
“The Beiyang Fleet.”
I pointed twice at Foote with my fingers as if it was the answer and turned my body and opened my mouth.
“In the end, the southern coastal cities are vacant, and if the expeditionary forces that advanced to Guangxi Province occupy the ports one by one, the French expeditionary fleet and the Far Eastern fleet can extend their activity radius to our Yellow Sea. Of course, our republic must also open Jemulpo, an important port as an ally, to provide safe supply bases for you.”
I also told Foote.
“And the United States. Temporarily gather the warships scattered across Asia and build a temporary fleet to follow behind the French expeditionary fleet. If possible, dock at Jemulpo and do repairs.”
“Eh, a temporary fleet?”
“I guess ‘ad-hoc’ would be more appropriate? Anyway, it doesn’t have to be a warship. Any merchant ship or steamer will do.”
Plancy, who understood my plan next, responded.
“If that happens, the British, who see the clear intention of the republic to dispatch a large support force along with our fleet and America’s fake fleet in front of their base Hong Kong, will have no choice but to intervene in the situation. Now I understand!”
The French ambassador Plancy, who had been listless and dejected by the current situation of the expeditionary forces sinking deeper into the swamp with physical advances, jumped up with joy at the sight of an exit.
It was only natural.
As long as we hold out a little, our republican army fills the hole, and France breaks Guangxi Province, the grand strategy is successful.
Just, it was a word that they could take even greater risks with more fighting spirit than the existing success.
I extended my hand forward to Plancy, the excited French ambassador, as if to calm him and said.
“Anyway, our republican army’s organization has been recently reorganized, and there are many parts lacking in equipment, so it won’t help in advancing to China. However, if the US and French governments promise favorable loan negotiations and broad financial support, we will send more troops to effectively reduce the expeditionary forces’ losses and casualties.”
“That part will require detailed discussion, but I understand what you mean.”
Next, Foote, who understood my plan, promised to seriously review the proposal with a cautious attitude and send the news to the home country as soon as possible.
“Please don’t worry, Mr. President. The loan support and northern mining development cooperation that you desire is a material that our Western entrepreneurs and capitalists like very much. It’s a very good opportunity for our American bankers who take the Pacific as the stage, so there will be many people friendly to the creditworthy Korean government.”
“Even if you say that, I’m grateful.”
After saying thank you for accepting my proposal, Foote answered with a firm expression.
“The new republic government sending even four divisions to help allies is very valuable propaganda material in diplomacy, Mr. President. Even if I have to catch a few Eastern pigs and bring them to the negotiation table to show my efforts in preparing good ingredients, I will.”
“Haha!”
“Just trust me.”
Actually, the biggest beneficiary here was the United States.
Foote was, in other words, gathering a few ships to play the role of warships behind the well-equipped French expeditionary fleet, deceiving Britain and Qing, and receiving overwhelming loan support and development permits from the Korean government to greatly expand their unknown influence in Asia—a golden opportunity.
Compared to France, who would shed blood together, the United States had struck gold by being present at this place.
“Instead, the funds wandering after losing investment opportunities in the West can open the floodgates to Japan, and at the same time, can turn the media noisy due to labor rights issues into a war crisis phase. That’s the material the White House was looking for.”
I said with a bright voice, laughing at the happy Plancy and Foote, and also the cabinet ministers whose expressions had become somewhat relaxed.
“This is what we call a win-win! A great compromise where everyone becomes happy, isn’t it?”
Of course, the Qing Dynasty and Đại Việt would be sad, but very much so.