The End of the Tri-Nation War

I could understand that much. So then, shouldn’t they at least offer something we could accept?

“Very well. How much are you thinking of? Let me be clear from the start: it must be an amount that at least I, and the Korean Empire behind me, can accept. If it’s truly difficult, why not lean on America, which is so friendly toward your country?”

“Two hundred million. Two hundred million yen, and not a single yen more.”

Two hundred million yen. Not bad at all. From the beginning I had drawn the cutoff line at exactly that figure. Honestly I had expected to squeeze out only a hundred million, so this was actually quite reasonable.

“Excellent. Then I’ll be counting on you to handle the end of the war properly.”

“Ugh…”

“And you must live a very long life. After all, you still have to protect Japan.”

I smiled like a jackal.

Japan had originally gained its present military strength thanks to Britain and America, who used it as a check against Russia. Its economic growth had only truly begun after the Russo-Japanese War. Throw in the First World War and Japan had become the sole Eastern civilization to rise to the ranks of the great powers. But in this timeline, defeat in the Russo-Japanese War had stripped Japan of its engine of growth. It could no longer play the loyal lapdog for Britain or perform its little tricks, which meant the great powers would give it no more scraps. Instead it would be forced to hand over what it had. It would remain a debtor nation, and while that might still pose a threat to Korea, the Korean Empire had now gained a golden opportunity now that Japan had lost the military capacity to invade it.

Hmm. Still, that man Ito Hirobumi is dangerous. Just because we have bought ourselves some time is no guarantee the great powers will suddenly favor Korea instead. I have no idea how far Ito Hirobumi can push things from here on, but he is without doubt a risky individual. Until his dying breath he will burn himself to ash trying to lay a new foundation for prosperity.

Ito Hirobumi staggered away like a pathetic drunk and returned to Japan.

“Should I kill him before he reaches Japan?”

“You mean Prince Ito?”

I shook my head at Kim In-soo’s question.

“Just thinking out loud. It would be difficult to kill him right now.”

No matter who I was, I wasn’t reckless enough to go that far. Since Japan had already withdrawn its hands from Korea, Dr. An Jung-geun would have no reason to seek the man out for assassination. Unlike original history, this Ito had supported the Russo-Japanese War—whether from external pressure or his own conviction—so there would be plenty of internal criticism. After backing the war and then losing like a dog, his career was finished.

“But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠will they actually pay the reparations?”

“That’s exactly why we took territory and stripped them of every physical asset we could carry out of Japan.”

Above all, even if the reparations were delayed, I had the Tsar behind me. I needed to suck him dry ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before his coin finally crashed. Japan now faced the nightmare of Korean-Russian allied forces landing on its home islands, so vicious infighting would rage inside the country for some time. All we had to do was stockpile strength while they tore each other apart.

Though Korea had been nothing more than a weak power in the Far East, the Korean Empire’s decisive intervention had allowed Russia an easy victory.

The Rothschilds and Morgans, who had financed Japan, were naturally furious.

Japan’s reputation had fallen to the level of “slightly better than the Qing.” The fact that they had launched a surprise attack and still lost painted them as a weak nation that could not even win a sneak attack. Meanwhile, in the Winter Palace, Nicholas II received a letter from me urging an end to the war.

With the empire’s mood growing darker by the day after Bloody Sunday, the war was finally coming to an end.

“Countess Ok says it would be best to wrap things up here and focus on internal affairs. What do you think?”

“If we seek Japan’s total destruction, we too will bleed heavily. Our domestic situation would only worsen. We should accept.”

“This is the moment to erase Nippon from the map entirely! We have already landed troops—how can we stop now?”

“Britain and America are grinding their teeth.”

Nicholas II had also wanted to wipe Japan off the map, but with the Anglo-Americans watching and the difficulties of operating on enemy soil, the losses might exceed anything suffered in Manchuria.

“Then what should we demand in exchange for peace?”

“How about three hundred million yen in reparations, fishing rights, and Hokkaido?”

“Hmm, isn’t that too little?”

“Our forces have already seized a great deal of material goods. Hokkaido will be difficult because of Britain, and reparations alone should suffice.”

Unlike the Korean Peninsula, which had suffered under Kuroki Tamemoto’s First Army, Manchuria itself had not sustained catastrophic damage. The losses at 203 Hill and Mukden were painful but nothing Russia could not laugh off. The only real sting was the fleet, but once the Korean Empire took over the remaining Japanese warships and transferred some to Russia, the losses could be partially offset. Of course, the domestic unrest from Bloody Sunday remained a problem.

“The Koreans, who switched sides midway, even took Tsushima. Isn’t it rather unfair that we get nothing?”

“Countess Ok has promised to arrange a lease on Tsushima for us. Continuing the war would only increase our expenses while Japan loses all capacity to repay its debts.”

Like it or not, this was the point to cash out. Witte did not say it aloud, but his meaning was clear: Britain and America would not be able to collect their loans from Japan. For Russia it was not a bad deal. The war had made clear who stood above whom. The only regret was that they could not wring out even more.

Britain was equally anxious. Russia’s victory threatened to topple Arthur Balfour’s Conservative cabinet. The government had only just survived the election, yet Japan’s crushing defeat was already shaking the administration apart.

“If those Far Eastern monkeys hand over war reparations, will they have anything left to repay their debts? They’ll probably just declare bankruptcy.”

“Let us reduce their debt burden in exchange for Okinawa.”

“Even so, preventing a change of government will be difficult.”

Japan clearly lacked the strength to repay its loans after the war. Therefore, Britain decided to mediate the peace and take Okinawa as compensation.

“Speaking of which, that Korean state apparently performed rather well this time. Perhaps we should reach out to them instead—”

“After they betrayed us? Do you really think the Tsar—who dotes on Korea so much—will simply watch? We must pressure Japan first.”

In Britain the Russian Tsar was mockingly called “the Korean Tsar.” After all, he had not only forgiven the very Koreans who had once pointed guns at him but had even accepted an end to the war at their request. Of course, everyone knew Ok Jin-seo stood behind it all.

“Britain and Japan have withdrawn from the Korean Peninsula. Doesn’t this mean we can craft a new Far East policy?”

Germany once again turned its eyes toward the Far East—specifically toward the Korean Empire.

“Are the Germans trying to court Korea?”

“We were the ones who helped the Korean saint train the Sapodae into Asia’s French army. We must prevent Korea from falling into German hands!”

Both Germany and France began paying keen attention to Korea for their own reasons, but the matter was temporarily set aside when peace negotiations for the Tri-Nation War were scheduled to be held in Paris.

Hanseong had finally regained its daily rhythm. The Japanese corpses had been collected and incinerated by the Sapodae and Korean imperial troops, and the city was rapidly returning to normal. The only remaining issue was the scattered remnants of Japanese forces that had been deployed to suppress the righteous armies in the southern provinces; units from the Jinwidae and parts of the Sapodae were now hunting them down.

Meanwhile, Sunjong, who had remained in the French legation, returned to Deoksugung Palace. What remained now was postwar cleanup.

During an audience to reward those who had distinguished themselves, Sunjong spoke.

“Today’s victory exists only because you chose to stand with this nation, the Korean Empire.”

“We are unworthy of such grace, Your Majesty!”

“Now… what remains is the distribution of rewards and titles…”

While the distribution of honors was important, the peace negotiations took precedence. Russia had requested that the Korean Empire dispatch a plenipotentiary. It was best to send one before the Japanese could attempt any further schemes.

“Your Majesty, is not the peace conference the more urgent matter? Countess Ok has already negotiated with the British and Prince Ito, but we cannot know what tricks those Japanese devils may still attempt.”

Min Yeong-hwan, who had encouraged the righteous armies and joined the cabinet, stepped forward.

“Where will the peace conference be held?”

“It will take place in the third country of France. Russia has requested that our nation dispatch a plenipotentiary.”

Normally the Korean Empire’s opinion would have been irrelevant, but since it had been a major actor in the victory, Russia had formally asked for Korean participation. That fact alone showed how far the empire’s prestige had risen.

“Then so be it. Who will go?”

At Noble Consort Eom’s question, Min Yeong-hwan advanced.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Consort, this servant, the Minister of State, shall go to Germany in person as plenipotentiary.”

“Do so.”

Min Yeong-hwan was thus formally dispatched to Germany as plenipotentiary. After he withdrew, I naturally stepped forward in the assembly of ministers.

“Your Majesty, we must also deal with the pro-Japanese cabinet established by Kuroki Tamemoto.”

“A pro-Japanese cabinet?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It has been confirmed that Kuroki Tamemoto attempted to form a cabinet using Song Byeong-jun and Lee Yong-gu of the Iljinhye along with Minister of the Interior Lee Ji-yong and others.”

Laughably, the Iljinhye and even members of the imperial family were entangled in it. Of course, the fact that most of the involved royals were traitors was no secret. Others such as Lee Jae-guk—famous pro-Japanese traitors from original history—were also implicated.

“The Iljinhye has been a pro-Japanese organization from the beginning. Their plan was to merge our Korean Empire with Japan, just as Austria-Hungary was formed. This is the perfect moment to eradicate them completely.”

The Iljinhye’s goal had been outright annexation. In original history they had been discarded by Japan after the annexation. They were pitiful fools who only realized they had been used after it was too late, but until that point they had sold their country. Here, too, they had to be crushed so they could never act again.

“I have heard the Iljinhye numbers over one hundred thousand. Are you suggesting we kill them all?”

Not all of them. But we could not afford to fear bloodshed.

“How grateful they are to gather and beg us to kill them. We should sweep away the leadership as an example and punish the members according to the severity of their pro-Japanese actions.”

We could not kill them all, but neither could we shy away from necessary blood. By making examples of the worst offenders, we would teach everyone exactly how they must behave from now on. I smiled brightly. Both Sunjong and Noble Consort Eom swallowed nervously.

“The words of the Administrator of Shenyang are reasonable. The Iljinhye actively cooperated with Kuroki Tamemoto’s First Army during this war.”

“But as you know, members of the royal clan are also entangled with the Iljinhye. What do you propose we do about them?”

As if I cared. Those fools had simply chosen the wrong side.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, may this servant offer an opinion?”

“P-proceed.”

The Crown Prince was clearly terrified of me.

It was a truly shocking declaration. No matter how deeply they had collaborated with Japan, suggesting the purge of imperial kin was no light matter. Yet neither Sunjong nor anyone else dared object. Because the force that currently held the support of the people was none other than the Sapodae.