The Sarajevo Spark and Shifting Gambits
The comment had changed a little, but the content stayed the same. So even if I tell them, it means our one-armed Kaiser won’t inform Austria? That means it doesn’t matter if I speak up now. Preparing in advance wouldn’t hurt. There’s nothing more entertaining than holding the world in the palm of my hand and twisting it however I please. Once Goryeo’s national power grows stronger, my own position will rise with it. I need to at least reach the Russian Civil War and secure all of Manchuria plus part of Siberia. That’s the only way forward.
“Then I’ll just gather the information and pass it along.”
“What kind of information, ma’am?”
This patriotic fool is clearly very interested in my abilities.
“Well, how the war breaks out, of course. I was originally planning to go to Austria and tell them, but now I’ll give it to Germany instead, as planned.”
I’m simply entrusting Germany with what I was going to do anyway.
“So you intend to leave everything to the German Empire, then.”
Exactly. I have to see this through to the end. It wouldn’t hurt to feed France some information too and force mutual damage, but Europe’s balance needs to be maintained to some degree for our sake. If the colonial order in Europe collapses, the world will fall into chaos.
“Minister of Education. I enjoy gambling.”
“Yes. I quite enjoy it as well.”
Of course he does. You can tell just by watching him sell out his country.
“For example, normally one would support the nation that wins the war. I’m curious about that future.”
What would the future look like if Germany wins? Would France and Britain degenerate the way Nazi Germany did? That part is genuinely intriguing.
“Germany is supposed to lose, after all. The atmosphere suggests as much.”
“Yes.”
“Betting on the losing side, then.”
Betting on the loser is the worst possible move. But if the support I provide while betting is strong enough, wouldn’t that change things?
“Of course it looks foolish at first glance, but I’ve already handed over everything needed for victory. Think about it. Doesn’t supporting the losing side and propping it up seem far more plausible than betting on the winner and simply cheering them on?”
Britain and France are bloated. They need to be taken down a notch. Even if they win both world wars, they’ll still have to give up their colonies in the end. If I use the alternative-history gallery to aim for real-time changes, things could turn out differently. Making a war that was destined to be lost into a victory—that alone would give me plenty of entertaining gossip.
“But what about the two-front war?”
Russia and France attacking from both sides. But Germany has the tactical nuke called Bolshevik Lenin. If I drop that on them, Russia is finished. At least that’s how they’ll see it.
“You’ll find out in due time. Besides, we won’t be directly participating in the war anyway. Now then, let’s prepare to head to France.”
Unless I have something substantial to offer France, there’s no reason for me to support them.
The British Empire’s Downing Street No. 10. At this time, the British Empire was paying far closer attention to Goryeo’s actions than Ok Jin-seo could have ever imagined. After all, that madwoman had dared to provoke the British Empire. Even if they wanted to teach her a lesson, there was the matter of Japan, and that crazy woman would probably throw every last one of her people into the meat grinder to stop them. On top of that, the Tsar who doted on her so much wouldn’t stay silent.
“Hmm. Goryeo’s Minister of War, Ok Jin-seo, is touring Europe.”
Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith furrowed his brow.
“France is delighted, calling her Goryeo’s Joan of Arc.”
France was predictable. They were the nation of revolution, after all.
“Of course they would. It’s that Ok Jin-seo woman. The one who ousted the incompetent emperor and became the de facto power behind the throne.”
“A cunning woman, too. She dared to deceive the British Empire and massacre the Japanese we had guaranteed safety for. And then she even tried to blackmail us.”
“Still, it’s true that Japan had outlived its usefulness. Moreover, that woman somehow managed to deal with the Chinese army quite effectively.”
“So where is she now?”
“Recent photographs taken with German Junkers.”
Asquith’s cabinet ministers had no choice but to be on high alert regarding Ok Jin-seo’s existence. The woman in the photos was conversing with those stiff German Junkers.
“Ho. She doesn’t look like an ordinary East Asian.”
“She must be living up to her reputation.”
“Hmm. Is she coming to the British Empire as well?”
Judging by the lack of contact from the embassy, it seemed she wasn’t coming. The relationship between Goryeo and the British Empire was delicate. They had turned a blind eye to the fall of the Korean Empire and the establishment of Goryeo. After all, someone had finally dealt with that incompetent, fox-like emperor who kept playing both sides. At the very least, it hadn’t harmed British interests. The only issue was that damned envoy who had suddenly declared she would suppress the Qing rebels and annihilated the National Revolutionary Army in a single battle before the British Empire could even react. They claimed it was due to disease, but even after she had the courtesy to hand over the aftermath to Britain, it had only created unnecessary work.
The British Empire itself wanted to know who this woman was—this person who neither bared her teeth at them nor bowed her head, yet kept doing things that made life difficult.
“She says she won’t be visiting the British Empire.”
Asquith didn’t show his displeasure.
“Why not?”
“Public sentiment and all that. She apparently hasn’t prepared a ship either.”
Churchill frowned. Refusing to come to Britain outright was clearly just another ploy to string them along. The excuses were flimsy, but it was obvious. From what they could see, she had somehow managed to charm even the German Kaiser. Britain had no choice but to watch how things developed. After all, Ok Jin-seo was essentially going around paying courtesy calls to the great powers of Europe. A polite way of saying “Please take good care of Goryeo from now on.”
“It seems she’s built some rapport in Germany as well, so her refusal is probably just an excuse. It could simply be due to public sentiment.”
“How on earth did she manage to win over the Kaiser? At least Russia has the connection through Tsarevich Alexei.”
How had she managed to charm the Kaiser? The reports said she got along well with the Junkers and the German military, but what exactly they had discussed remained a mystery. The British Empire was dying to know.
The Kaiser had always despised Japan, yet he didn’t realize that Ok Jin-seo of Goryeo was the very embodiment of the Yellow Peril? Goryeo itself was a useless country in every way, but if Ok Jin-seo dragged it forward by the scruff of its neck, it could become a civilized nation worthy of the Yellow Peril theory. For the Kaiser to grow close to Goryeo like this…
“Perhaps she threatened him the way Ambassador Jordan, the former consul to Korea, was threatened?”
“Would the Kaiser be someone who could be threatened?”
Germany was the nation trying to match the British Empire by building both an army and a navy. A country insane enough to pursue both simultaneously despite its position. Why would such a nation want to befriend some insignificant Far Eastern minor power?
There had to be something more.
“Perhaps the Kaiser wants to make Goryeo his partner in the Far East. Since Goryeo is nominally neutral, if he were to deliberately draw them in militarily…”
“Indeed. Given Ok Jin-seo’s close ties with Russia, striking from behind would leave Russia with no answer. Is he trying to solve the two-front war problem?”
Did Goryeo even have the capacity for that? Even if they gained some foothold, could a small peninsula nation really strike Russia from behind?
“On another note, it seems Goryeo recently gifted the Kaiser red ginseng directly as an export item.”
“What is that?”
“Apparently it’s good for treating opium addiction and various illnesses, and it’s also said to improve vitality.”
So it was some kind of panacea? Did such a thing even exist?
“Where would you find a panacea like that?”
How could such a medicine exist? It didn’t make sense.
“Apparently ginseng itself has been a specialty product of Korean peninsula nations for thousands of years. They say the Qing bought large quantities of it as an opium treatment.”
Bought in large quantities as an opium treatment? Then this wasn’t just a simple courtesy visit—Ok Jin-seo was trying to open up the European market.
“Since she’s heading to France, let’s observe the situation there.”
Surprisingly—truly surprisingly—the British Empire was paying close attention to Ok Jin-seo’s visit.
Fortunately, France welcomed our delegation warmly. I had expected some awkwardness since we had come from Germany, but there was none. Knowing we had come from Germany, they went out of their way to accommodate us. My reputation as Goryeo’s Joan of Arc probably helped as well.
“Hahaha, Goryeo’s Joan of Arc, welcome! France welcomes Goryeo’s Joan of Arc!”
President Raymond Poincaré greeted me. Look at that. Goryeo’s Joan of Arc. That’s how they were welcoming me. France couldn’t possibly be unaware that I had been building ties in Germany. They also knew Goryeo wasn’t strong enough to warrant such treatment.
“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”
The reason France was elevating me was because I had performed well in line with their support. After all, we had only been able to take Gando thanks to France’s help and advice.
“I trust nothing unfortunate happened during your journey?”
Nothing unfortunate had happened. On the contrary, I had seen quite a lot.
“No. As expected of France, the city of culture and art, every single city was truly impressive. I felt that Goryeo still has a long way to go.”
Even in the future, France held that position. They were said to be the best in soft power, after all. Time to lay on the flattery. This would make them happy. After all, the woman they were praising as Goryeo’s Joan of Arc was showing such admiration for France.
“Hahaha! Still, Goryeo is a nation that diligently moves forward.”
Exactly. My country was moving forward diligently. Of course, catching up to Europe would take time. But if we advanced a little further and made a name for ourselves in the next war, perhaps we could catch up.
“Yes, and this is all thanks to France’s assistance. Without the help of the French military, how could we have conquered Gando and proven our worth to Russia?”
“Hmm. That is true.”
“Furthermore, although Your Excellency has only recently taken office, you are already a figure worthy of the new term ‘Poincarism.’”
Raymond Poincaré. The current president of the French Third Republic. I had looked him up on the alternative-history gallery before coming.
“Ho. You know about me?”
“Yes. Presumptuous as it may be, I respect such a president, and having admired revolutionary France, I followed its example in ousting our incompetent imperial family.”
All of this was learned by watching you French. Therefore, as the senior republic, you should naturally help us.
“Well, it is truly delightful to hear such words from a beauty who would not lose to any European lady.”
No one spits on a compliment delivered with a smile.
“However, I am also well aware of France’s concerns.”
“What might those be?”
The fact that I was getting along well with Germany, of course. France would naturally find that troubling. Even if we were just a minor power in the Far East, befriending their enemy would be rather awkward, wouldn’t it?