Fengtian Province
Lee Beomyun made a strange expression at the news I brought.
It was as if he was saying, “This isn’t right.”
‘Why does he look like that?’
“You received a noble title from Arasa? I don’t know if this is a good thing.”
“What do you mean?”
‘Isn’t receiving a title a good thing? At the very least, as long as I’m here, the Sapo Unit won’t be designated as an enemy of Russia.’
But surprisingly, I was overlooking Gojong.
“Actually, in Hanseong, it is said that Britain and Japan have joined hands.”
A newspaper from Hanseong.
The front page contained an article about the military alliance between the Korean Empire, Britain, and Japan.
It boasted that Korea had finally become equal to the great powers.
What a load of nonsense.
‘Do they really believe that? Even though Korea looks more impressive than in the original history, on the inside, it’s still just an empty shell.’
‘Even if the entire Korean Empire’s military were gathered, it wouldn’t even amount to 100,000 soldiers. Would Britain and Japan really see them as equals?’
‘Of course, they plan to expand before the war, but the elite forces will have to come from here.’
‘Wait a minute. Korea is aligning with Britain and Japan? Is this really following the path of that alternative history forum?’
“A three-nation alliance? Does that even make sense?”
‘They actually joined hands with Britain and Japan?’ This can’t be real.
I expected it, but I still can’t believe Gojong actually made this decision.
Well, I guess I can understand why.
The world’s most powerful country, the British Empire, and Japan—the very nation that had looked down on Korea and bullied it with one-two punches—had now extended their hands.
No doubt, Gojong believes that Korea’s improved military capabilities changed their attitude.
By forming this three-nation alliance, he probably thinks Korea is now on equal footing with them.
If Japan is Britain’s “policeman of the Far East,” a subordinate ally, then Korea isn’t even a subordinate ally—it’s just a pushover.
Since the emperor has made his decision, things are going to get tough.
Now, I won’t be able to act freely against Russia.
Nicholas II is more focused on Gando than on Korea itself.
‘If I send him a letter, he might acknowledge Gando as an independent ally.’
Come to think of it, Britain and Japan also view us as a separate entity.
Those bastards—’are they trying to drive a wedge between Gando and the homeland?’
They aren’t complete idiots.
They must know what they’re doing.
“The emperor has decided, so what can we do? We must look on the bright side. Since you secured Fengtian and Jilin, proving Korea’s military capabilities, Britain and Japan must have reconsidered their stance.”
Yeah, you could see it that way.
But from what I read on that alternative history forum, this doesn’t seem like a good thing at all.
“Britain and the Japanese bastards want to use our military to attack the Russian army, spilling our blood all over Manchuria. Does His Majesty even realize this?”
‘That bastard Gunbami—does he even understand what’s happening here?’
‘Is he seriously considering fighting against the Russian army? Did he get overconfident just because we crushed some Qing soldiers?’
Even Japan, which had modernized its army first and launched a surprise attack to start the war, would have been crushed if Russia had really gone all out.
“He knows, but what can be done? It is an imperial decree—we have no choice but to obey.”
Obeying just because it’s an imperial decree.
How utterly foolish.
“We must inform His Majesty of the injustice of the Anglo-Japanese-Korean Alliance. Thinking we can stab Japan in the back after the war and kick them out is nothing more than a delusion. It’s wishful thinking, plain and simple.”
‘Why are they making such idiotic decisions?’
‘Is this because of me? Because I was granted a noble title and secured Southern Manchuria? Did they do all this without understanding the local situation, just to formally claim this land as part of Korea?’
“I will report it to His Majesty, but I doubt it will be easy to change his mind.”
Even Lee Beomyun seems to be underestimating the situation.
As a vassal, if the ruler takes the wrong path, he should do whatever it takes to stop him.
The records make it look like I supported Gojong’s decision, but I can’t let that happen here.
***
Fengtian now technically belongs to me since I was granted the title of a Russian count.
This city, home to the old Qing palace, is now under my control.
One day, the Qing might try to reclaim it, but with Britain and Japan around, I won’t be shackled by them.
I might have to threaten them with Hong Taiji’s bones or something.
After Lee Beomyun returned to Gando, I went back to my office in Fengtian, propped my feet up on the desk, and took a moment to gather my thoughts.
The real problem is the Korean Empire.
Damn it.
This is where I have to live.
I have no choice but to drag the Korean Empire up by its collar.
But that bastard is too much of an obstacle—Gojong.
I’m sure he finds me troublesome as well.
We’ve never even met before.
Until I became a count, he probably considered me just another rank-and-file Jinwi soldier.
He might not have even known I existed.
Gojong finds me a nuisance, but he can’t summon me.
‘Why?’ Because I am now a Russian count.’
With the Anglo-Japanese-Korean Alliance in place, he may see me as a subject of the Korean Empire, but as a Russian noble, he can’t touch me.
‘But will I really be safe once the war with Russia is over? No. Definitely not.’
“I expected this, but it’s becoming a real problem.”
It would be best to cut out the rot now.
That bastard Gojong—no matter how I think about it, I can’t let him live too long.
At the very least, I have to turn him into a powerless figurehead.
Even if it means bringing about a second era of military rule, a major decision must be made.
‘Would it be better to declare full independence?’
I’ve already secured Southern Manchuria in name.
I could declare it my own domain, proclaiming it as the Fengtian military government.
Then, I could raise an army here to fight the Anglo-Japanese Alliance—
Wait.
‘That bastard Gojong will definitely send the Korean Imperial Army, won’t he?’
“Is it time to deal with Gojong?”
He’s not the only problem.
Even after Korea gained independence, the old Joseon ruling class clung to their privileges.
It took the Korean War for the remnants of the caste system to be wiped out.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to purge them now?’
I need to kill Gojong and force a war with Japan.
That way, I can empower Lee Beomyun.
Since I already have the title of count, I will receive support from Russia as well.
‘Is complete independence my only option now?’
I must act before the war breaks out.
This is the golden opportunity.
If I fail to eliminate Gojong now, I’ll go down in history as nothing but a useless figure.
***
“Count?”
Someone called for me.
Now, even the people around me address me as a count.
A Russian, likely one of those officially dispatched to assist me.
“Why?”
“A man named Choi Jaehyung has come to see you, Count.”
Choi Jaehyung? Why is he here? Oh, right. Now that I’ve become a Russian count, he’s probably curious.
With foreigners coming to see me, it’s no surprise that Choi Jaehyung would show up as well.
‘Wait, wasn’t Choi Jaehyung a wealthy man?’
From what I know, he became even richer after the Russo-Japanese War.
If he’s that influential, he could be a source of funding.
“Bring him in.”
I’ll take the money meant for independence movements and use it wisely to prevent Korea from becoming a colony.
***
The man I met was indeed the same Choi Jaehyung I had seen in photographs.
Both of us observed each other, assessing and feeling out the situation.
“This is an honor. To think the one who saved the Crown Prince is such a young lady. And I hear you’ve been granted the title of Count.”
Choi Jaehyung looked at me in amazement.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed over something like that. I wouldn’t say I was “granted” a countship.”
“It’s an honorary title at best. Even the land they supposedly gave me—South Manchuria—is under too much international scrutiny for me to hand it over to Korea outright. This whole thing is just a workaround.”
“It’s merely an honorary position. I don’t even have a Russian name. I am still a subject of Han and His Majesty the Emperor.”
“You and I are different.”
“Unlike you, who went to Russia, I intend to stay here.”
“Even if we try to gather strength from outside, history won’t change as long as Korea remains a colony. The colonial era itself is the biggest stain in Korean history. If there’s a chance to change it, if we can struggle to alter its course, then we must.”
“Of course.”
“What brings you here to see an ignorant woman like me?”
An ignorant woman.
That should be enough of a persona.
Choi Jaehyung is a big name.
Compared to someone who has endured hardship like him, I’m just a woman who happens to be a little stronger than most.
“I hear His Majesty of Han has allied with Britain and Japan. The Emperor is making a very bad move. That’s a serious problem.”
So he knows. Of course, he would.
Choi Jaehyung poured his entire fortune into the independence movement.
Someone like him would be more attuned to Korean affairs than anyone else.
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Are you planning to fight Arasa?”
‘Does that even make sense? I have no intention of fighting.’
“The Imperial Korean Northern Army—this military force stationed here—is strong, but there are clear limits.”
“Even if we were to attack Russia, we’d be utterly crushed.”
“Isn’t that a question for our Gando Administrator?”
The title of Count of South Manchuria is just a hollow honor.
In reality, South Manchuria falls under the jurisdiction of the Far Eastern Governor-General.
What we control is, at best, Gando.
Though, to be fair, Gando, as Korea defines it, is quite a sizable territory.
“I grew up sailing merchant ships around the world, learning trade under my godparents. And I have many Korean laborers in Korean settlements who follow me.”
“Yeah, I read about that on Wikipedia.”
Even at his peak, Choi Jaehyung still had to endure Russian surveillance after the Russo-Japanese War.
Eventually, the Japanese military in Russia captured him.
He was executed while trying to escape.
“And?”
‘Is he just here to brag about being some local boss? Still, he’s a potential financial backer, so I’ll hold my tongue.’
‘If he’s got money, I should start sharing my ideas.’
At the very least, he has an eye for people.
Even though I’m young and a woman, no one would suspect me to be the true power behind Sapo.
“You must be Ok Jinseo.”
He looked straight at me, his gaze full of meaning.
‘The real power of Sapo, huh? That’s a bit of a stretch.’
“Is that so? Why not just say it outright? You think we should ally with Arasa instead of England and the Japanese.”
Choi Jaehyung might be an independence activist, but he still resides in Russia.
It’s only natural that he wouldn’t want Korea to fight Russia.
That much is obvious.
“I assumed the Count already understood that.”
“I do. For the sake of Han, we must avoid war with Russia. But we are being forced to make a choice. The Emperor in Hanseong seems pleased with his alliance, but no matter how I look at it, this is a dead-end.”
“The Sapo in Gando is the most powerful military force in the Empire of Korea. If you, Count, are willing to stand against Britain and Japan…”
“…Then we’ll lend you our strength.”
Standing against Britain and Japan.
So this man, too, is placing his hopes in me rather than Korea.
Choi Jaehyung amassed enormous wealth during the Russo-Japanese War.
And he used it to fund the independence movement.
If I could get my hands on all that money, it wouldn’t be a bad deal.
“You’ll lend me your strength, will you? If we’re going to fight Britain and Japan, we’ll need a scenario. Can you help with that?”
This man will probably funnel massive amounts of money into the war, just as history originally dictated.
I’ll make sure that fortune is dedicated to my cause.