Recapturing Hanseong (3)
“Kuroki’s First Army has reportedly withdrawn to Hanseong.”
“So they intend to hole up there.”
Withdrawing to Hanseong. Never mind that they had already crushed Choi Ik-hyun’s righteous army coalition; in the end, it seemed they would make their stand in the capital. Kuroki must have taken some losses fighting at the Imjin River and against Choi Ik-hyun. Even the backward Korean Imperial Army, given the training they had received, would have inflicted considerable damage on Kuroki at the Imjin. He was likely trapped in Hanseong now.
“Commander Bak Seung-hwan’s words are becoming reality.”
Exactly. Defending Hanseong ultimately meant they planned to use the Crown Prince as a hostage if necessary. Taking the Crown Prince hostage was their way of securing at least some advantage in negotiations. That meant the war we had already won could be overturned because of a single prince. No matter how I looked at it, that was unacceptable. I had gone through all the trouble of dragging him out by the scruff of his neck. There was no way I would let one prince ruin everything.
“Well, it’s within expectations.”
Nothing changed for us. We would simply proceed with the plan and sweep the enemy away as intended.
“Ito Hirobumi is apparently in Hanseong as well.”
Ito Hirobumi being in Hanseong meant they still hoped to negotiate somehow. The Russian fleet was already likely heading for Japan. Perhaps we should load the Korean army aboard and send them along. Or capture their precious Emperor. First, however, we had to retake Hanseong. Whatever schemes Ito Hirobumi might be hatching, they meant nothing now. The man would not live to see Japan join the ranks of the great powers. Instead, he would have to endure Corea’s revenge. It might even be worth completely crushing Japan while we were at it. According to the earlier agreement with Minister Jordan, Britain would not abandon Japan.
“In the end, negotiations are inevitable.”
“You mean we should respond to negotiations even though we hold the advantage?”
Of course we should negotiate while we held the advantage. If we were a great power whose opinions Britain had to consider, things might be different, but throwing our weight around without real strength would only backfire. Precisely because we were in a favorable position, this was the moment to extract maximum concessions and conduct backchannel negotiations with Britain.
“We cannot afford to rely on Russia and provoke Britain here.”
Even if Russia took a firm stance, Britain could still offer us concessions while keeping Japan as its Far Eastern base. We were hardly in a position to argue. Having only just escaped Japan’s sphere of influence, what could we possibly do against Britain? Even Russia, a direct participant in the Great Game, would find Britain difficult to handle. There was no point in acting arrogant toward Britain while relying on Russia.
Russia had already experienced Bloody Sunday. Even if delayed compared to the original history, Bloody Sunday had still occurred. The Russian Empire was ultimately doomed. When that time came, we would not be able to beg Russia for help either. Now was the perfect moment. At present, we were merely proving our worth on the international stage. We would twist the situation to our maximum advantage.
“If Russia helps the Countess, wouldn’t they tear Japan apart right now?”
“It seems Britain is still unwilling to abandon Japan.”
So this was just a brief respite. Those detestable bastards were still playing their detestable games. In the meantime, all I could do was raise my head and play along with Britain’s desired scenario.
“Then we must secure at least everything we can obtain. We advance straight to Hanseong.”
It was time to march on Hanseong. I would slip into the city alone, rescue Yi Cheok, and dump him at the French legation. Only then would we retake Hanseong and accept Kuroki’s surrender.
“Can you really recover Hanseong?”
Of course. But first, there was something I needed to know.
“By the way, who exactly are you?”
I asked Kim In-soo while adjusting my saber, adding a threatening edge to my words. One wrong answer and I would cut off his head. Just in case he had been sent by Gojong to assassinate me.
“For now, I am also a former soldier of the Korean Imperial Army.”
“Did His Majesty the Emperor dispatch you?”
If Gojong had sent him, he could stab me in the back on imperial orders.
“Although His Majesty issued an imperial command, I came here largely of my own will.”
Having lived in that other world for so long, I could read people’s eyes. The eyes of those lying to survive, those lying to betray, and those speaking the truth were all different. This man’s eyes belonged to the last category.
“I see.”
Perhaps I was overthinking it. The historical Kim In-soo had never been a particularly threatening figure, yet he could still prove useful as a source of Russian intelligence.
“For this country to survive, someone like the Shenyang Administrator must occupy a key position in the government.”
He wanted me in a high post. I already held the position of Shenyang Administrator; what more did he want? I was already stretched thin trying to assimilate the Han Chinese and Manchus of Manchuria into Korea. Given time, I intended to use Manchuria as a stepping stone to modernize the Korean Empire.
“Southern Manchuria is already in our hands. Besides, I am a woman.”
“Soseono was a woman, yet she helped Chumo the Great found Goguryeo and later established Baekje in the south with her sons, did she not?”
Unfortunately, I was no Soseono. Soseono had possessed the power of the Sono clan, and that era had far lower population density, making it easier to found nations. If I wanted to do the same now, I would need to stage a coup. I did intend to do so eventually, but I planned to remain behind the scenes.
“The times are different now, but do you truly believe there are others like the Shenyang Administrator in the Korean Empire today? The country is full of men trying to sell it out, and others who still fail to grasp the changing era, blindly consorting with foreigners while submitting memorials declaring everything impossible without offering any alternatives. Are not the scholars who cling to the dead words of Confucius and Mencius while being unable to adapt to the times precisely the so-called nobility of this country?”
“You speak well, but do you truly think I am the same as Soseono? As I said, I am a woman. This body makes it difficult.”
Perhaps in the future it would be different, but not now. After all, the late Joseon period was still an extension of the old dynasty. Compared to the twenty-first century, women’s rights were far lower. Even the European great powers had not yet reached that stage. Still, if my bloodline were sufficiently prestigious, legitimacy might be possible. For example, if I were part of the Korean Empire’s royal lineage. At present, however, his words held little value to me.
“I believe the Major has received His Majesty’s grace. Are you now inciting rebellion against me?”
At least for now, I had no intention of seizing power through rebellion or revolution. I preferred to reap the benefits without shedding blood myself; fighting external enemies was enough. I would step forward only when sufficient justification existed.
“There are countries in this world where the monarch serves as a symbol while parliament governs. Britain is one, and Japan is similar.”
His words sounded plausible, but I felt no particular attraction to the idea. At least not yet. It simply meant I could not act as freely as I wished.
“It is not as though I have no thoughts on the matter. But rebellion must not occur, and immediately after this war we must integrate Manchuria’s many ethnic groups.”
After the war, we had to secure southern Manchuria by any means. Therefore, I needed to create a situation during the armistice negotiations where we could extract the maximum possible gains.
“Shenyang Administrator!”
Calling me “Administrator” felt odd. I did not even know my exact age, but judging by appearance alone I looked to be in my late teens or early twenties. To be addressed with such respect at this age was strange. Then again, my appointments as Chief of Staff and Shenyang Administrator had largely been thanks to Yi Beom-yun’s consideration.
So who was this man?
“And you are?”
“I am Second Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok of the Korean Imperial Army’s Capital Guard. I was responsible for the defense of the Imjin River.”
Ah, so that was it. Second Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok. In the original history, he had fought at the South Gate battle and even captured a Japanese company commander. Now, as a platoon leader, he had been entrusted with defending the Imjin River. Even I, who knew little of history, recognized the name.
“You did well. Thanks to you, we avoided clashing with Kuroki Tamemoto at the Yalu River.”
“Please allow me to participate in the battle for Hanseong.”
He seemed to harbor considerable resentment. Since I knew little about the current situation in Hanseong under Kuroki Tamemoto’s control, placing Nam Sang-deok at the forefront would be wise. Given how he had fought at the Imjin, he would likely distinguish himself in the battle for Hanseong. It would also be good to bring him into our fold now.
“Go see Yi Beom-yun, the Gando Administrator. Although we are both administrators, my position as Shenyang Administrator is largely nominal, and I serve as Chief of Staff of the Sapodae. The Gando Administrator, by contrast, oversees all of Gando. It would be proper to seek him out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Very well. I would now head for Hanseong separately. Thus began the operation that would later be called the Hanseong Offensive.
* * *
British Minister to the Korean Empire McDonald had crossed into Korea together with Ito Hirobumi. The reason he had deigned to visit this inferior, uncivilized land in the East was because of Jordan’s report regarding Korea’s postwar demands.
A proposal for Korea to become a fully independent buffer state free from Russian, British, or Japanese influence. Reparations, including compensation for the warships previously swindled by Japan. The nullification of all treaties with Japan. None of these ran counter to the interests of the British Empire. For Britain, it would prevent Russia from turning the Korean Peninsula into a vassal state, colony, or protectorate, while also securing an apology and reparations from Japan for killing the Emperor. Of course Russia’s demands remained the greatest problem, but if Korea was making such requests, some adjustment within reasonable bounds should be possible.
Even the “lease of Okinawa” was not bad.
McDonald gazed from the battlements at the black tide arrayed outside Hanseong’s walls. Among the surging black wave flew both the Taegeuk flag and the crow banner of the Korean army.
“For a nation that has yet to achieve modernization, they are surprisingly well equipped. I hear over a hundred thousand Korean troops have marched south?”
A hundred thousand was a respectable number for an army. If Korea survived in its current state, that force could easily double or triple. Assuming southern Manchuria—what they called Gando—fell under Korean influence, the population would reach thirty million. Though smaller than Japan’s, it would still provide sufficient manpower to field an army.
“Even so, compared to our Japan, it is no exaggeration to call them a third-rate army.”
The man was still trying to save face, unwilling to lose his rice bowl.
“That third-rate army thoroughly trounced you at Lüshun and Fengtian. How many troops does Japan have left?”
“We can defend this Hanseong and conscript as many garrison troops as needed for the home islands.”
So that fool Kuroki or whatever his name was claimed he could defend Hanseong with the army that had been driven from the Imjin. What nonsense.
“If that third-rate army merely besieges Hanseong and lands in Japan alongside the Russians, will Japan be able to hold?”
They would not. Japan had already committed nearly all its proper troops against Korea and Russia. Even if they hastily raised garrison forces, they would be fortunate not to be crushed by a third-rate army. And behind that third-rate army stood the Russians.
“That is—!”
“The important thing is that Japan is the defeated nation in this war.”
Remember that fact. Japan had mobilized its entire national strength to fight Russia. After boasting they would win and then suffering such a defeat, they needed to come to their senses.
“The Russian fleet also suffered heavy losses at the Tsushima Strait. Therefore—”
Yes, we had heard that news. After all, it was a fleet Britain had essentially nurtured. Even if they could not defeat Russia, they should at least have inflicted damage.
“Therefore you are asking the British Empire to step forward and protect your Japan? You have no shame whatsoever.”
How could they be so shameless? After receiving so much support and still losing, they should have been groveling, yet here they were.
Tsk. Even while growling like a cornered wolf, that woman Ok Jin-seo had at least tried to maximize her country’s gains without harming the British Empire. This was simply shameless.
“Even Britain would not benefit from Russia dominating the Far East.”
They were in a begging position yet still attempting threats. They should have fought the war properly in the first place.
Since defeat was already a foregone conclusion—
“Well, that woman calling herself the Shenyang Administrator suggested making Korea a buffer zone in the Far East. Our home country views the proposal favorably. It would minimize Russian influence in Korea.”
If that happened, Britain would no longer need to fear Russian expansion in the Far East. The Great Game could end at that point.
“Please give our empire a chance. We are a nation that once defeated the Qing.”
The Qing? They dared to bring up the Qing?
“The Qing were beaten even by Korea’s provincial forces.”
To bring up such a pushover—Japan truly was an uncivilized nation.
“We shall see.”
If they dragged things out to the bitter end in Hanseong, it might be necessary to reassess Korea’s war-making capability as well. Extending British influence into Korea would not be a bad idea either.
‘A superhuman appears during national crisis to save the country.’
It was not entirely to his liking, but if it benefited the British Empire, it was acceptable.
‘I ought to cut open my own stomach. Why has that fool Kuroki driven the situation to this point!’
Meanwhile, Ito Hirobumi felt like disemboweling himself.