Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Russo-Japanese War Begins (2)
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"You bastards! Should I not let go of these hands?!"
A few days later.
As Yi Yong-ik himself had already anticipated, Japan had obtained Emperor Meiji's approval and abducted him, shipping him off to Japan.
Of course, having already fulfilled his role beforehand, Yi Yong-ik's lips curled into a slight smile even as he was being forcibly dragged away.
"Please sign here."
"Understood, Minister Hayashi."
Afterward, Yi Ji-yong—nephew of Heungseon Daewongun's brother Heungin-gun, High King's fifth cousin once removed, former Minister to Japan, and currently acting Foreign Minister—sold his soul to Japan for a mere 10,000 yen and signed the Japan-Korea Treaty as the representative of the Korean Empire.
Then, with a bright smile, he shook hands amicably with Hayashi Gonsuke, the Japanese minister.
In the future, as one of the Five Eulsa Traitors who would also participate in the signing of the Eulsa Treaty, there was no trace left of any pride as a member of the Joseon royal family in Yi Ji-yong.
Now, officially, the Japanese army could freely use all territories of the Korean Empire according to their own strategies.
They had also seized control of the Korean Empire's communication networks and secured railway construction rights for lines like the Gyeongui and Gyeongbu.
And above all, Japan had laid the groundwork to turn Korea into a colony.
Of course, the Koreans had no intention of welcoming this.
As soon as the contents of the Japan-Korea Treaty were published in the Official Gazette and spread across the eight provinces of Korea, the Korean people erupted in fury.
"That royal bastard signs some nonsensical treaty like this and doesn't blow himself up with the Japs—how can he shamelessly scribble his name as they order? Aren't you ashamed before King Taejo and our ancestors?!"
"Traitor Yi Ji-yong, who became Japan's dog for a few pennies—go die!"
"What the hell is the court and the Emperor doing while the country falls to this state?!"
The Koreans denounced the court for not opposing the Japan-Korea Treaty and condemned Yi Ji-yong, who had been bribed by Japan to sign it, as a traitor.
Someone even threw a bomb at Yi Ji-yong's house to kill him.
"Lord Myeonam! Why aren't you acting? This is the time for us scholars to rise!"
"Just wait a little longer. The Japs will show an opening soon. That's when we'll stand up."
Of course, there were those like Choi Ik-hyeon who exercised patience and bided their time.
In any case, Korean resentment and anger toward Japan only grew day by day, and Japan's response was characteristically Japanese.
Bang! Rat-a-tat-tat!
"Koreans! Disperse this illegal assembly that's harming Japan-Korea friendship immediately! Otherwise, we'll deem it a riot and suppress it with force!!"
In the face of Japan's show of force with massive troops, the Koreans' anger seemed—though not entirely—to be forcibly quelled.
Believing they had eliminated the threat from the rear, the Japanese army now turned its gaze northward.
"Gentlemen, the time has come to display the might of the Empire to the world. All forces, advance!"
Step! Step! Step! Step!
The Japanese Army's 1st Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Kuroki Tamemoto, departed from Hanyang toward Uiju and the Yalu River.
Their goal, just like in the Sino-Japanese War, was to cross the Yalu and push into Manchuria.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Combined Fleet, after securing stable supply lines following the Battle of Lushun Port, attempted to annihilate or neutralize the Russian Pacific Fleet holed up in Lushun Port in order to seize control of the Yellow Sea.
However, in the second battle between the Japanese Combined Fleet and the Russian Pacific Fleet, the Japanese once again failed to destroy their foe.
The Russian Pacific Fleet had failed to escape but, with support from the coastal guns of Lushun Port and the firepower of damaged ships that had retreated to harbor, managed to survive against the Japanese fleet.
Naturally, for Admiral Togo and the Combined Fleet, who needed to eliminate the Russian Pacific Fleet by any means, this was maddening.
While the Russian Pacific Fleet stubbornly held out despite the disadvantage, Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov—the most capable admiral in the Russian Navy—arrived at Lushun Port.
"Admiral Togo and the Japanese Combined Fleet are in real trouble now."
Admiral Makarov muttered this as he reviewed the battle reports of the engagements between the Japanese Combined Fleet surrounding Lushun and the Russian Pacific Fleet before his arrival.
He wanted nothing more than to immediately board the Pacific Fleet's flagship, Petropavlovsk, and sail out to punish the Japanese Combined Fleet for daring to strike the Russian Empire in the back.
Unlike Hans's misconception—based only on hearing that the Pacific Fleet had been smashed by the Japanese—and the exaggerated tales of Russian weakness, the Russian Pacific Fleet was far from weak.
Though it lacked cruisers and destroyers compared to the Japanese Navy, it had seven relatively modern battleships, making its battleship strength equal to that of the Combined Fleet.
However, due to successive misfortunes, passive commanders, and the chronic issues of the Russian Navy—low crew quality and poor morale—it had been annihilated by the Japanese without a proper fight in the original history.
Thus, Admiral Makarov believed they could fight the Japanese fleet on even terms, but unfortunately, he had orders from the homeland.
The orders stated that the war's outcome would be decided on land, so he should avoid unnecessary risks, preserve the Pacific Fleet's strength, and not throw away the ships.
He knew why the homeland had issued such orders.
The reason was military support from the German Empire.
The Germans were supplying weapons, ammunition, and various aid at low prices, advising to maximize fortresses and trenches for a defensive war.
'The observers dispatched from the German Empire are still secretly nagging us even now.'
They reminded him of an annoying mother-in-law, making Admiral Makarov grimace slightly, but their advice wasn't wrong.
However, sitting idly in the harbor didn't suit his temperament.
Moreover, even without him personally engaging, there were plenty of ways to harass the Japanese Combined Fleet.
"Adjutant. Summon the captains."
Admiral Makarov closed the Immortal Admiral Yi he was reading and issued the order with a sly expression.
Hoping for the blessings of Admiral Yi, who had annihilated the Japanese Navy, to aid them.
"Admiral! The Russian fleet is coming out of Lushun Port!"
"All fleet, assume attack formation!"
"Hai!"
Admiral Togo Heihachiro sprang from his seat at the news that the Russian fleet was finally emerging and shouted.
His face broke into a wide grin, as if delighted despite the enemy's approach.
A month after the first and second battles, with no sign of them leaving port, the Russian Pacific Fleet was finally moving.
How long he had waited for this moment.
'Admiral Makarov's arrival must have bolstered their courage.'
Stepan Makarov, the legendary figure of the Russian Imperial Navy whom even Togo knew well.
With morale boosted by his arrival, the Russian Pacific Fleet undoubtedly planned to drive the Combined Fleet from Lushun this time.
'Exactly what I've been hoping for!'
The Combined Fleet's primary objective was to neutralize the Russian Pacific Fleet and capture Lushun, but aside from the initial clash, they hadn't properly engaged Togo's fleet.
Winter had passed and spring arrived, yet the Russians remained cooped up in Lushun Port, only laying mines stealthily at night, frustrating the watching admiral.
Eventually, Togo decided that if they wouldn't come out, he'd seal them in, sinking old freighters filled with cement to blockade the port—but even heaven didn't side with him this time.
Ridiculously, the freighters sank too deep, failing the blockade.
Tearing up, Togo prepared to try again.
Then, at last, the Russian Pacific Fleet emerged on their own.
It was only natural that the Combined Fleet, desperate for them to come out and fight, cheered.
"This time, we annihilate the Russian Pacific Fleet! Everyone, give it your all—this is our last chance!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
In response to Admiral Togo's command, the Japanese Combined Fleet moved in perfect unison.
Soon, the Japanese ships were ready to open fire the moment the Russians entered range.
"...?"
However, the Russian Pacific Fleet mocked the Japanese fleet's burning resolve by turning their bows just before entering gunnery range and heading back to Lushun Port.
"Th-those...!!"
Having watched the whole thing from start to finish, Admiral Togo erupted in rage.
"Pursue immediately! We must inflict some damage before the enemy fleet escapes into Lushun!"
"Yes, sir!"
At Togo's urgent command, the flagship Mikasa surged forward in pursuit, and the Combined Fleet hurriedly chased the Russians fleeing to port without a fight.
"Japanese fleet entering range!"
"All batteries, open fire!"
Boom! Boom-boom! Boom!
But just as the Japanese closed in, the coastal guns defending Lushun unleashed a volley at the Japanese ships.
Massive waterspouts erupted with thunderous roars right in front of the Japanese vessels, forcing Admiral Togo, unwilling to risk his precious warships, to order a trembling retreat.
And the next morning.
The Russian Pacific Fleet toyed with the Japanese Combined Fleet in exactly the same way.
And the day after, and the day after that.
"Arrrghhh!!"
After weeks of being played by the Russian Navy—not just a day or two—Admiral Togo finally screamed in frustration.
The Russians would emerge from port with grim determination as if ready for a decisive battle, only to slink back when the Japanese approached.
Moreover, as if refusing to be suckered repeatedly, if the Japanese ignored them, they'd actually attack or try to break the encirclement.
Then, when the flustered Combined Fleet counterattacked, they'd turn and flee to port again.
For Admiral Togo and the fleet, it was utterly infuriating.
'In the end, the armored cruiser Iwate couldn't stand it, charged ahead, hit a mine, and suffered heavy damage.'
Iwate had to withdraw for repairs back home.
Having lost a valuable armored cruiser so absurdly, Admiral Togo shook his haggard head.
Admiral Makarov lived up to his reputation, proving annoyingly competent.
He had abandoned any thought of counterattacking the Combined Fleet, focusing solely on enduring in Lushun and tormenting them.
But Togo couldn't afford to ignore Makarov.
The Combined Fleet couldn't leave the Russian Pacific Fleet alone.
Besides, with Makarov and the fleet still at full strength, there was no sign yet—but if the Russian homeland dispatched its fleet to the Far East, the Combined Fleet would be trapped between lion and tiger.
"In the end, we must abandon capturing Lushun with the navy alone."
Unwilling as he was, since the Russians had no intention of fighting properly, Togo could only hope the army would take Lushun and drive them out to sea.
"Speaking of which, Lieutenant General Kuroki's 1st Army should be crossing the Yalu soon."
Once across the Yalu, they could establish supply lines, land troops near Dalian close to Lushun, and open the path to it.
Thus, for once setting aside army-navy rivalries, Admiral Togo fervently prayed for Lieutenant General Kuroki and the army to triumph and push quickly to Lushun.
"Commander-in-Chief, sir. Construction of the western trench line is complete."
"Hm. This area's defenses look a bit thin. Add more machine-gun nests."
However, contrary to Admiral Togo's wishes, across the Yalu River, former War Minister and current Russian Far East Army Commander-in-Chief Aleksei Kuropatkin was personally directing the Russians in building massive defensive lines.
Thanks to Germany's prior warning of the Russo-Japanese War, unlike the original history where he rushed to the Far East only after war broke out, Kuropatkin had arrived much earlier.
And in Kuropatkin's defenses were massed machine guns and barbed wire from Germany.
Including strange new submachine guns dubbed "機関短銃."