Sowing the Seeds of Hongikism
Later, when the civil war breaks out, it would be best to at least find a way to save them. That way, we could turn the White Army into a bulwark against the Soviets. “If a Western princess says such things, this Easterner hardly knows how to respond. And,” I said, looking at the young boy who seemed much younger than Olga. “I heard you helped me when I was dying.”
The boy carried himself with surprising dignity for his age. Cute. At this rate, maybe I should bet on preserving the empire after all. If we really think about it, the deaths of the Tsar’s family… Nicholas and the Empress were partly reaping what they sowed, but the children were innocent. The Bolsheviks who slaughtered them weren’t exactly sane either.
“It was only natural, as it was for the sake of saving my own country.”
“Yes, I suppose so. But I clearly heard it back then. I don’t remember anything else, but you said, ‘Please survive.’ I still remember those words.”
How could a baby remember that? Or had he simply interpreted something he’d heard at the time? No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t recall anything from my own infancy either. Maybe Alexei was special. Whichever the case, it seemed to have left quite an impression on him. Perhaps that old man had given him some kind of buff. At the very least, if he knew he had been saved because of me, there was a chance he would help me even after becoming Tsar. That alone would be enough. If I could keep this boy under my thumb, planting a foothold in Russia wouldn’t be difficult.
“By the way, what exactly is Hongikism?”
“It means binding all humans together through their right to survival, regardless of nation or ethnicity, and bringing them benefit.”
“So it’s simply about uniting people through their right to survival?”
Should I start instilling anti-communist thought in them? If I wanted to make the revolutionaries foam at the mouth, I needed to spread it. I didn’t know what kind of turning point this would create later, but at the very least, the Tsar’s family would be deeply influenced by me.
“No. It is an ideology that liberates the right to survival from nationalism, cares for the people’s livelihood, takes from the wealthy to distribute to the poor, eliminates class competition, keeps the proletariat from becoming ignorant masses chasing false equality, and struggles for competition and freedom while rejecting communism.”
“It rejects communism?” Maria asked cautiously.
“Communism is ultimately the devil’s ideology. While calling religion the opium of the people, communists worship communism more than God. People become nothing more than bodies obeying the orders of revolutionaries within a controlled life. Hongik Ingan, however, tears down ethnic nationalism and outdated welfare systems under the banner of freedom, creating an advanced ideology on an entirely different level from something like communism.”
In the end, it was all just dressing things up. Liberating humanity’s right to survival freely under the ideology of Hongik Ingan. Yet, unlike anarchism, it placed that freedom under a government guided by the Hongik Ingan spirit. It could be called the spirit of free Hongik. Just as the Bolsheviks would gradually begin propagating communism, this Hongik spirit would serve as a brake, declaring communism demonic. What I was saying now would eventually become Russian-style Hongikism through these royals.
“So communism is an evil thing,” Anastasia muttered with a serious expression.
“That’s right. What they call the liberation of the people is no liberation at all. It creates a controlled world that castrates people’s competitive spirit, forcing them to obey only the Communist Party’s orders, and will drive human civilization into regression.”
I explained it in more extreme terms. Communism was an ideology that must never awaken. Of course, I had no idea how they would actually feel about it, but the idea that Hongikism was founded on anti-communism should have taken root.
“Will communism appear in this country as well?”
That was a good question. If they asked whether communism would appear, it was only natural to answer. There was no need to reveal every detail of the changed future through the alternative history gallery. Still, I had to warn them to be careful. The Tsar’s family—especially these princesses and the prince—had to survive if we were going to make use of them.
“It has already taken root. Like weeds, no less.”
I made sure they clearly recognized the danger of communism. Only then would our dear Tsar’s family be wary of the revolutionaries.
“But isn’t that the devil’s ideology? Would people really fall for something like that?”
How could people fall for the devil’s ideology? That was probably what she meant. Ironically, that was exactly why it spread.
“Because it is the devil’s ideology, its sweet whispers seduce the workers. Those who have nothing are always vulnerable to incitement. If some devil suddenly appears and tells struggling laborers that he’ll seize the rich’s wealth and divide it among them, how could they not be tempted?”
That was how communism worked. It was an ideology that appealed precisely to those who had nothing. Beating down the rich and the bourgeoisie, seizing their property to redistribute it, and obeying the Party’s orders. Even without communism, workers’ welfare could be achieved to any degree.
“Good heavens. Then what should we do?”
At Olga’s question, I carefully opened my mouth.
“Russia must develop in such a way that communism cannot run rampant. After all, communism has no power over those who are well-fed.”
“I see.”
Even if that happened, wouldn’t there still be spies in Korea? Of course, those spies would be meaningless in the face of nuclear war.
“Of course, there are also fools who classify communism as an advanced ideology or philosophy. Or those who are slowly being eroded without even realizing they worship communism, losing all sense of right and wrong.”
There was no room for dialogue or compromise. While the Korean Empire had already transformed into Goryeo steeped in Hongik Ingan, Russia was now being eroded by communism. Once I planted Hongikism, I would have to root out the communist revolutionaries on a large scale. For now, reforms would continue, and as an example, they would all be executed. The problem was the nobility. Honestly, it would be better if a revolution broke out naturally and they were dealt with in the chaos. The question was what would happen from here on.
“In that case, we must support the reformists.”
“Of course, neither the conservatives nor the revolutionaries would want the reformists to renew the country.”
The conservatives feared losing their vested interests, while the revolutionaries feared their revolution becoming meaningless. The problem was that Nicholas II would have been a good man if he weren’t Tsar, but as Tsar he was incompetent, so even now the reformists were at their limit. Seeing the Viceroy of the Far East cooperating with the reformists, perhaps that man was the one moving the Tsar. At the very least, I intended to sow Hongikism in Russia before I left. The Tsar wouldn’t dislike it, so long as it wasn’t communism.
“Then what should we do?”
“At the very least, we must help the reformists gain strength.”
There was no other way. If it were Princess Olga, she might be able to intervene in state affairs to some extent, but even she alone wouldn’t be enough. Could the Tsar do anything?
“Is there no other way?”
“Couldn’t Countess Ok help us?”
What could I do to help? I could lend a hand if I pushed myself a little, but I was already the Minister of the Army of Goryeo. If a foreign military figure suddenly interfered in Russian internal affairs? That could create variables that might bring Russia down because of me. It wouldn’t be good to unnecessarily antagonize the Russians.
“Surprisingly, it’s impossible. I only received the title of countess as an outsider. If I interfere in Russian internal affairs more than necessary, there will be much talk within Russia.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“To change the mood, I have a gift for you.”
I gave the Tsar’s family the book Immortal Yi Sun-sin. It was even a Russian translation. I had really put in effort to make it as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the plot had already been outlined in advance, so I was able to flesh it out reasonably and release the first volume quickly.
“Wow, so Yi Sun-sin was this kind of person.”
“But the monarch feared the hero.”
“Why?”
That was a simple matter. Just look at me—how wary had Noble Consort Eom been of Geumjjo-i acting like an emperor behind the scenes? If Prince Yeongchin had still been alive, he would have done the same, wouldn’t he? No, actually, dealing with Prince Yeongchin would have been even harder, so who knows—maybe I really would have had to declare independence in Manchuria. I had an invincible body to begin with, Japan was outwardly an ally, and I had enough power to handle things when I struck from behind. But for Admiral Yi, it must have been much harder. While the army suffered defeat after defeat, he alone achieved victory with the navy, secured command of the sea, and delayed the Japanese advance. After saving the country like that, King Seonjo, whose popularity had hit rock bottom because of the war hero, tried to get rid of him several times. Even until the Battle of Noryang, where he devoted himself solely to defeating the Japanese, the king would not leave such a meritorious subject alone. It was understandable to some extent—if someone gained too much popular support, it became troublesome.
“It’s difficult to explain everything, but the king tried to abandon his people and flee to another country. In that situation, while suffering defeat after defeat on land, only Admiral Yi Sun-sin kept winning and gaining fame. Think about it, Your Imperial Highness the Tsarevich, Your Imperial Highnesses the Grand Duchesses. If a general secured more popular support than the Emperor himself…”
With just those words, Olga seemed to understand and nodded.
“Ah, I see.”
A ruler always feared powerful retainers. If one didn’t want to die, the only answers were to stage a dynastic revolution or seize power like a military regime.
“Will this book be published in Russia as well?”
“It hasn’t been officially published in Russia yet.”
Judging by their positive reactions, I figured I could release the book somehow. It wouldn’t be bad to write and release various other books besides Yi Sun-sin. I could release hero stories in advance. Of course, with national affairs keeping me busy, I couldn’t write them all openly, but it would be good to decide on the material in advance.
“That’s a shame. I’ll definitely buy it as soon as it comes out.”
“But didn’t I bring one copy with me like this?”
It was practically a first edition. And personally delivered by the author, no less.
“Then, now that you’ve given us the book, are you leaving for Germany right away?”
Not right away. Before going to Germany, I needed to build rapport with Russian officials again.
“Since His Majesty the Tsar personally welcomed me, I think I’ll stay for a few days.”
“In the meantime, please tell us about Korea!”
Well, if they wanted, I had to tell them. Friendship with OTMAA would lead to the future, after all. The revolution was the only problem, one way or another, but just in case, it wouldn’t be bad to dispatch the Imperial Intelligence Agency—the National Intelligence Service—to Russia to keep an eye on the Bolsheviks at all times. Fortunately, Russia currently had good relations with Goryeo. Many Koreans had also advanced into Russia, so even if the NIS infiltrated, Russia wouldn’t find it suspicious. It might also be good to tell the Tsar to warn the Okhrana to be careful of the Bolsheviks.
Afterward, I spent time dining with OTMAA and informing the Tsar’s family about Goryeo. After enjoying ourselves for quite a while, I suddenly felt a presence as I was leaving the palace.
“A word, if I may.”
It was Prime Minister Stolypin.
“Oh, what brings you here, Prime Minister?”
“Is it true that the Russian Empire is in danger?”
As long as Stolypin was alive, things seemed to be going well. He was originally an assassination target, after all. He had been implementing anti-revolutionary policies, sweeping up revolutionaries, only to be assassinated later by a left-wing revolutionary. That was how history originally went. The fact that he was still alive in 1913 clearly showed that the future had changed. Should I check the alternative history gallery? Stolypin, who was in the midst of reforms, would always face assassination threats. How often would I get the chance to meet him like this? If I went to see him myself, Stolypin or the nobles would find it suspicious. The fact that Stolypin had come to see me meant he was seriously worried about Russia’s future. For Goryeo to finish its preparations, the Russian Empire needed to collapse as late as possible. Stolypin was a meat shield that had to hold out. In that case, I needed to check the gallery. Depending on how and when this man died, the fall of the Russian Empire would accelerate.
“Just a moment. May I read the heavenly signs for a bit?”