The Black-Haired Russian Countess
The hall erupted in joy the moment the diagnosis was confirmed.
“There has been a clear improvement!”
“Alexei is finally free of his suffering!”
After some time passed, even Nicholas himself learned the truth. At this point I decided it was time to hand over the rest of my medical knowledge to the doctors here and wash my hands of the matter.
“My work here is more or less finished. Follow the instructions I have given you to the letter, and His Highness should make a full recovery.”
“It is nothing short of miraculous,” Nicholas II said, gazing at me with boundless trust. “None of the empire’s physicians could accomplish it. How on earth did you manage such a feat?”
After he had watched me refuse to die right before his eyes, his faith was only natural. I had achieved what Rasputin never could, though by very different means. What would become of the real Rasputin now was anyone’s guess, but that was hardly my problem.
“Something of this level is hardly difficult. It may be rude to press my request so soon after resolving the hemophilia matter, but I hope Your Imperial Majesty will honor the promise you made.”
“Name your desire.”
His face was so relieved he looked ready to grant me the moon. Should I shoot high? In negotiations like this, you always open with audacity. If you want five thousand won in allowance, you demand ten thousand with a straight face and let them talk you down. It looks like a failed bargain on the surface, but you walk away with everything you actually wanted.
What I wanted now was a mutual defense treaty. In other words, a military alliance.
“In addition to a mutual defense pact, I ask that you recognize all of Southern Manchuria—excluding Dalian—as territory of our nation.”
“Corea dares speak of mutual defense?”
“And territory besides?”
“Is her ambition not excessive?”
The Russian nobles jeered and voiced their opposition. Even this was me showing considerable restraint. I had, after all, essentially saved their empire.
“A Japanese invasion is a foregone conclusion. In Europe the outcome might differ, but in the Far East a limited war carries a real possibility of Russian defeat. After all, from European Russia the Far East is half a world away. Even a son of a bitch becomes a wolf in his own territory. To Japan, the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria are nothing more than their front yard. And behind Japan stands Britain, the true player in the Great Game. Why should this not make sense? If the Korean Empire falls into Japanese hands, Russia will face direct threat from Japan—Britain’s eager attack dog. This is no loss for Russia. Quite the opposite.”
I was absolutely certain of that last part. My silver tongue must have been persuasive, because Nicholas II gave a small, almost entranced nod.
“There is logic in what you say.”
“We can concede on the mutual defense treaty. But Southern Manchuria? Is that not excessive greed? During the Boxer Rebellion they refused our offer of joint intervention and seized Gando for themselves alone.”
One noble in particular was vehemently opposed. I didn’t catch his name, but he seemed like someone important. Nicholas II appeared to be weighing the point; he kept glancing at me as if gauging my reaction.
“We would prefer that you remain in Russia rather than return to Corea.”
“I must be in Korea.”
At my firm reply, Nicholas II leaned over and whispered with the man who had been glaring at me with open hostility. They were clearly negotiating what they could afford to give. And at last the Tsar spoke.
Saving the child who is the heir of Great Russia is no different from saving Russia itself. However, the direct cession of territory to Corea carries the risk of provoking Japan. Therefore, we hereby bestow upon Ok Jin-seo, staff officer of the Sapodae of Corea, the title of Countess of the Russian Empire and entrust to her the administration of Southern Manchuria.
Furthermore, should a Japanese invasion prove imminent, a mutual defense treaty shall be concluded with the Korean Empire. Ok Jin-seo shall defend both Southern Manchuria and the Russian Trans-Manchurian Railway.
What?
He was granting it directly to me, not to Korea?
Well, it was far better for the future that I hold it rather than that roasted-chestnut bastard, but still—this?
Wait. So that’s why the Emperor… He grew jealous of a mere female officer in the Jinwidae and latched onto Japan! Those damn traitors never bothered to tell me about something this important!
Even so, pushing any further would be unwise. The Tsar had shown mercy; haggling now would only make me seem ungrateful. He might withdraw the gift entirely if I appeared too greedy. Besides, this was effectively the same as giving us Southern Manchuria.
“I have one more command. Ok Jin-seo, guard the Russian Trans-Manchurian Railway along with Southern Manchuria.”
What the hell was happening? I had somehow become a vassal of the Russian Tsar. Was this actually a good thing? On the other hand, throwing a tantrum and demanding he hand the land directly to Korea didn’t seem wise either.
All I could do was bow my head. Even as I did, questions kept swirling in my mind. A Russian countess? Was such a thing even possible? Granting a woman the title of Countess and Southern Manchuria as a fief—did this make sense? Still, the current Russian Empire was outwardly engaged in the Great Game with Britain. Its prestige was enormous. It could afford to do this.
Should I accept it? What would Gojong say when he learned of this? Would it be better to refuse outright? It was a pie in the sky anyway. A mere formality. We had already agreed to use Manchuria as a “training ground.”
I decided to refuse at least once.
“Your Imperial Majesty, this cannot be permitted.”
“You dare refuse the Tsar’s mercy?”
Several Russian nobles immediately began cursing me for rejecting imperial grace. But I was, after all, Gojong’s subject.
“His Majesty the Emperor of our nation will never accept this. Southern Manchuria alone is no small territory compared to our own lands. For a mere subject to—”
“That is a matter I will resolve personally by sending a letter to the Emperor of Korea. Although Ok Jin-seo is a woman, I value her exceptional military talent highly and shall have her defend Southern Manchuria.”
Honestly, this was a dangerous gamble. But I had no choice but to accept. Refusing now would mean losing the Wanli Emperor’s legacy. Yes. If I was going to overthrow that roasted-chestnut emperor, it was better to hold real power.
***
Meanwhile, news of Alexei’s recovery spread like wildfire across Europe.
The entire continent was buzzing. It was the Tsar’s own child who had been saved. How could it not cause a sensation? What shocked people even more was the reward: the savior had been granted the title of Russian Countess and given Southern Manchuria as a personal fief.
At first the reaction was merely “How surprising,” but once it became known that the savior was the very woman who had rampaged across Manchuria, the uproar grew tenfold. Of course, only the Korean Empire, Japan, and a handful of others had known about the “Manchurian Witch,” but bestowing a countess title upon her was more than enough to ignite European curiosity.
“What sort of woman earns even a Russian countess title?”
This fascination naturally drew many Europeans to visit Southern Manchuria in person.
Not everyone was merely intrigued, however. In the Qing court, the reaction was pure rage, as though Empress Dowager Cixi had suddenly developed an acute case of anger management issues.
“Does that even make sense? Even if Manchuria was handed to Russia, it was only a desperate last resort! We have never abandoned Manchuria for a single moment, yet they give Southern Manchuria to that Joseon bitch who would tear and slaughter everything in her path!”
Cixi’s hideous wrinkled face trembled as she stamped around in fury. The Guangxu Emperor frowned at the sight.
“Then shall we go to war over it?”
“What? Your Majesty, what are you saying? Of course we must suppress that Ok Jin-seo whore!”
“The fact that the Russian Emperor granted that Joseon woman a countess title also means he intends to protect her.”
He had bestowed the title directly. When one considered the period during which the woman had rendered service in Russia and earned the title, it was clear she had done enough to win the Tsar’s deep trust.
“Yes, and? Manchuria is our sacred ground. The tombs of Taizu (Nurhaci) and Taizong (Hong Taiji) lie in Shenyang! Would Russia really send an army just to protect one woman?”
“That woman is filled with loyalty to her country and her emperor. Such a person has now received a noble title in Russia and become the master of Southern Manchuria.”
The one who answered Cixi’s furious question was a reformist official named Hyuk-gwang.
“What are you trying to say? That she betrayed her master and clung to the Russian Emperor instead?”
She was no ordinary woman. The Sapodae forces under her command in Gando were said to be quite powerful for a Korean army. Russia would naturally want to make use of such a person. And she had apparently switched sides the moment they offered her land.
“If Russia and Joseon have formed an alliance, what will you do?”
“Russia and Joseon?”
Indeed. The fact that the Korean subject had so readily accepted the countess title could be seen as part of some deeper scheme. The title itself might be nothing more than a convenient pretext to transfer Southern Manchuria to Korea. In effect, it could be a plan to completely sever Manchuria from Qing control.
But what could the Qing do? The dynasty was already little more than a semi-colony. They were struggling to defend even the lands south of the Great Wall, let alone Manchuria.
Meanwhile, in Hanseong, Emperor Gojong was clenching his fists so tightly the knuckles had turned white.
The Russian Emperor had granted the title of Countess together with Manchuria as a fief to that Sapodae woman named Ok Jin-seo. Did such a thing even make sense? The recovery of Manchuria was supposed to be his achievement. Yet this completely unknown woman had suddenly taken Southern Manchuria for herself. The imperial authority had been gravely damaged.
“Just who is this woman called Ok Jin-seo? Who is she to receive Southern Manchuria—land that we must recover—from the Russian Emperor!”
“Even so, we cannot question the Russian Emperor about this matter.”
Russia was currently Korea’s ally. They could not afford to lose that relationship.
“What do you mean?”
“This is the personal letter from the Russian Emperor delivered by Minister Weber.”
Your Imperial Majesty,
The bestowal of the title of Countess upon Ok Jin-seo and the entrustment of Southern Manchuria to her administration is a measure taken with consideration for how the world will perceive these events. Should a Japanese invasion become certain, a mutual defense treaty between our two empires shall also be concluded.
May the friendship between our nations deepen.
— Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia
Upon hearing the contents of the letter brought by Yi Yong-ik, Gojong’s rage subsided—slightly. The grant of a countess title and Southern Manchuria to the girl Ok Jin-seo had been done with an eye to international opinion. In addition, a mutual defense treaty would be signed the moment a Japanese invasion became certain.
Yes, all of that was good.
But Gojong had survived the brutal oppression of the Heungseon Daewongun, Empress Myeongseong, and Japan. He had maxed out his political instincts. And no one clung to power more desperately than he did. Even if she was merely a staff officer of the Sapodae, even if she was a woman, from Gojong’s perspective this was not a welcome development.
Anyone who approached the Emperor’s authority had to be eliminated. There were no exceptions—even if the offender was the roasted-chestnut general himself.
“Even so… did they not say she was nothing more than a Sapodae staff officer?”
How could a mere staff officer become the master of Southern Manchuria? This gravely damaged the dignity of the Korean Empire. Overlooking it was possible, but when one considered the vast territory stretching from Gando to Southern Manchuria, the sheer scale was no trivial matter. It inflicted serious harm upon imperial authority.
And at that precise moment, the British minister to Korea, Jordan, requested an audience with Gojong.
“Your Imperial Majesty, I trust you have been well. The reason I have presumed to seek an audience today is that this humble subject dares to offer a proposal to Your Majesty.”
“What business does England have?”
Gojong was already displeased by the arrival of Jordan, the English minister who had interfered in Korean affairs time and again. The man was smiling with that characteristically sneaky, piratical expression typical of the island nation’s envoys.
“Your Majesty, I have heard that the Sapodae has acquired Southern Manchuria.”
It had been received from Russia, but received nonetheless. For now, even if dealing with that Ok Jin-seo girl came later, they had to treat Southern Manchuria as Korean territory.
“It seems the sweet scent of Manchuria has reached all the way to the British legation.”
These damn bastards had smelled blood the moment Korea moved to control Manchuria. After all, without relying on the Boxer Rebellion, using only Korea’s own strength—and the private army of a mere administrator—they had swept through Manchuria.
“Hahaha. Is it not now time for our Great British Empire, Korea, and Japan to stand together?”
“What are you saying?”
An alliance with England and the Japanese dwarfs? These words were coming from an Englishman’s mouth? Was not England supposed to be the strongest nation on earth?
“Russia is currently constructing fortresses throughout Manchuria and stationing hundreds of thousands of troops there. Is this not an act contrary to the peace of East Asia? Therefore, if our three nations cooperate to expel Russia from Manchuria, would that not be desirable?”
Drive Russia out of Manchuria. They clearly had no intention of shedding only Korean blood; they would make both Koreans and Japanese bleed to achieve their goal. And what would be gained by that?
“What do we stand to gain?”
“Britain will support both nations in order to preserve peace in East Asia, but we desire nothing in return. Korea shall obtain the vast territory of Manchuria, while Japan will receive Dalian to use as a naval base.”
Yes, it sounds plausible. But only a fool would trust these bastards.
In truth, how much had Korea suffered at the hands of Britain and Japan until now? No matter how he looked at it, the only future he could see was being used and then discarded.
Right at that moment, Gojong’s petty, narrow, and utterly pathetic little brain kicked into two-hundred-percent overdrive.
What if they first drove Russia out of Manchuria, then used the powerful Sapodae to strike the exhausted Japanese army from behind? England could not possibly mobilize military force in the Far East given its current situation. From the position of checking Russia, they were hardly the sort to shed their own soldiers’ blood in Manchuria for nothing. So the possibility was not zero.
Above all, they could not leave Southern Manchuria in the hands of a mere Sapodae staff officer. An inexplicable sense of inferiority began to burn in the Chestnut King’s chest.