Choi Jaehyung was a reliable man, so much so that the Koreans in the Russian Far East called him “Pechikara.”
Of course, there were many difficulties he had to overcome to get to this point, and there were times when he had to risk his life, but still.
He was the most trustworthy Korean in the Russian Far East, a man with leadership.
And when the war broke out, he thought of getting into the military-industrial business.
But then an uncomfortable order came for him.
“How am I supposed to make something like this?”
This airplane that the Count of Manchuria handed over.
It was good that he had drawn something in front of him, as if copying it, but the picture was crooked.
It was fine in writing, but the drawing was shaky.
It was hard to tell what it was.
Sure, the picture could be corrected, but the real question was how to make it.
Choi Jaehyung had not yet gathered enough money to make something like this.
More importantly, ‘how would he even set up a factory?’ With the situation in Russia, it was impossible to produce something like this.
“Even if the war comes soon, it’s impossible.”
Perhaps later, in a place where the great powers are fighting each other, it might be possible, but for now, it would be difficult.
It would be impossible unless he found collaborators.
“Wait, collaborators?”
Although Russia was underdeveloped and lacked technological power compared to other countries, it was not a poor country.
Recently, they had been industrializing, and there were also wealthy families.
If not, he could try working with countries that were allies of Russia.
Anyway, Choi Jaehyung, who had been involved in trade with his godmother and godfather, had broad connections, so at least it was worth trying.
Of course, even if this was successful, if the Count’s territory collapsed, it would be over.
Choi Jaehyung shook his legs and stood up.
“Well, we were told to go to Hanseong, so we have to go.”
To prevent it from collapsing, he had to cooperate actively with the Count.
***
The road to Hanseong, the capital of the Empire of Korea, was not that difficult.
There were some Japanese soldiers around, but since they were ‘allies’ for now, it wasn’t like they controlled Korea yet.
At least for now, the Japanese soldiers weren’t in control of the country.
“Surprisingly, there are fewer Japanese soldiers in Hanseong.”
Perhaps because Emperor Gojong was cooperating so actively, the Japanese didn’t need to occupy Hanseong, and instead, they were focusing on fighting against Russia.
But that didn’t mean there were no Japanese soldiers at all.
At least if the Qing army were to come, there were enough soldiers to defend.
Also, if they had ambitions to take over the Empire of Korea, they had enough troops to try.
“Could these guys have some hidden agenda?”
“Anyway, I heard that Kuroki Tame-moto’s 1st Army is nearby. The Japanese soldiers stationed in Hanseong are an enemy, but…”
“Well, I suppose.”
To the Japanese, Joseon was just a small, weak nation that they could easily control, a convenient snack.
Of course, from the Empire of Korea’s perspective, they were fighting for survival and had messed up in diplomacy, but still.
It would be more difficult to take the Emperor with them.
“But how do you plan to take the Emperor?”
“It’s simple. We disguise him.”
Last time, when he tried to kill him, Lee Beomyun would probably rebel a lot, so he couldn’t do that openly.
Instead, he had to disguise the Emperor as a businessman and take him to Manchuria with Choi Jaehyung.
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“It is possible. Even if it seems impossible, I will make it happen.”
He planned to use Emperor Gojong’s petty nature to his advantage.
A petty and survival-driven character, with his famous Queen Min, who was somewhat awkward in her position as empress, and his father, Heungseon Daewongun, who had raised Gojong to be highly perceptive.
With the intention of protecting his power, Gojong would probably be willing to follow him.
If not, he could threaten him with a gun. If something happened when they were taking him, he could take the bullet instead.
If that didn’t work and he failed to control Gojong, the worst-case scenario would be to kill him during the journey.
Then, he would cover it up by making it look like the Japanese did it.
Of course, this was a last resort; it was better not to kill him.
He didn’t want to stain his hands with Gojong’s blood.
While traveling to this point, he had thought of a few methods.
If none of them worked, he would have to make a decision himself.
And Choi Jaehyung, as a means of meeting the Emperor, had arranged to be received by the Emperor through his permission.
***
“Oh, so you’re a Korean businessman who became wealthy in Russia. So, you’ve come to do something for the Empire of Korea?”
As expected, Gojong, who was always in need of funds, warmly welcomed Choi Jaehyung’s visit.
In fact, when I met Gojong, I was speechless.
As seen in the photographs, he looked pitiful.
His face was full of greed for power, yet he looked like someone who would be the class representative of a school.
“War is war, and business is business, right? But given the circumstances, there is someone I need to show you before anything else.”
“Who is that person?”
His face showed an expression of expectation.
Even now, the Emperor looked excited about the idea of taking over Manchuria.
Since it would be advantageous to strike the Japanese from behind rather than deal with Russia, he might find it unpleasant if the Empire of Korea fell under Russia, but still.
I had to get Gojong out of here.
“Your Majesty, it is Sin Seong, the Governor of Shenyang, Ok Jinseo, who wishes to meet Your Majesty.”
I saluted the Emperor, who was in charge of the Empire of Korea’s army.
My clothes were formal, but they didn’t make me look like a soldier.
“Ah, so you’re the Ok Jinseo who received the Russian title and sent the remains of the Taeguk to me, the one I appointed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s right. Please, don’t look at me any longer.”
The problem was that this wasn’t a private meeting, but one that involved the Emperor’s close attendants.
“To think it would be such a young woman. What power does she have in her body?”
“Even so, isn’t this too rude to the Emperor?”
I thought of figures like Lee Yongik, Min Yeonghwan, and Park Jesun.
My rushed actions could seem rude, but it could also be seen as an urgent situation.
Choi Jaehyung, who came with me, was the proof of that.
I remembered my time in acting school and knelt down dramatically in front of the Emperor, crying out loud.
“Your Majesty, please forgive the disloyalty and rudeness of your servant who had no choice but to meet you like this! But the situation in the Empire of Korea is urgent, and I had to commit such a rude act!”
“What on earth is going on?”
“On the Amnok River, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army, Oyama Iwao, was overheard having a conversation with his staff! That conversation contained statements that are truly a threat to our country!”
A threat to our country.
At my words, the Emperor’s eyes subtly darted around, a sure sign that he was uneasy.
Even after his wife passed away, he only declared the imperial title during the Gwangmu Reform.
He was an emperor who had never truly taken revenge on Japan.
Though we were allies, there was something suspicious about him.
“What was the conversation about? Speak clearly!”
“They said that if the Russo-Japanese War becomes difficult, they would take control of Hanseong and the imperial palace with the remaining Japanese forces in Hanseong and establish a pro-Japanese cabinet by force.”
“What! No, that’s impossible! No matter how weak our country is compared to the Japanese, the remaining Japanese forces in Hanseong would not be enough to take control!”
“That’s true. There would be a lot of bloodshed, but there are still well-armed protest groups who have been trained as allies.”
“Your Majesty, you have already shown kindness to them by forming an alliance. What could their intentions be in establishing a pro-Japanese cabinet? Their plan is to move their main forces to take control of the entire Korean Empire as soon as they seize Hanseong and then fortify their position at the Amnok River.”
“That’s nonsense. How could that be possible!”
His eyes were wide with rage, and I could tell he was starting to listen carefully.
Yes, now’s the time.
I will plant seeds of doubt in his mind.
If it were truly an ‘alliance,’ there wouldn’t be a problem even if he went to Shenyang to inspect the army.
“Your Majesty! There’s a chance! I heard that the Japanese fleet failed their mission at the Lushun Port and fled. The Japanese forces at the Amnok River just crossed the border, but they’re hesitating, so there’s still a slight chance.”
“I… I have come here in haste, and I have been rude to Your Majesty. Please forgive me!”
He bowed his head several times, crying.
I had to make sure I showed enough loyalty.
“If you’ve come here, you must have a plan. Is that correct?”
“Yes, there’s definitely a way to save you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s not impossible.”
“Good. Speak quickly. What is the way to escape?”
Now, it was working according to plan.
I hadn’t brought Choi Jaehyung along for no reason.
I needed to gain his trust.
“Your Majesty, it’s necessary for you to disguise yourself.”
“Disguise?”
“Choi Dohyun (a position similar to a military officer) will prepare everything for you.”
I intentionally called Choi Jaehyung Dohyun.
He held such a position in Korean society, and by calling him that, I hoped to avoid any suspicion as he helped.
The Emperor, perhaps feeling reassured by the extra layer of safety, nodded more gently than before.
“Truly, you are loyal subjects. Very well. Even King Injo of the Joseon Dynasty hid to preserve the state. I, too, will do the same!”
That part was going well.
Just this part.
Now, I had to plant the devil’s whispers in his ear so he couldn’t say anything else.
“The humiliation will be brief. A crisis is an opportunity, and Your Majesty will lead the army like King Taizu did, riding a horse. You will become a horseback emperor.”
King Taizu, Yi Seong-gye, was someone every Joseon king respected and wanted to surpass.
Since the Sapo Unit had already boasted of stirring up trouble in Manchuria and Gando, the opportunity to restore the lost territories was akin to surpassing Yi Seong-gye, who had driven out the Red Turban Rebels, Japanese pirates, and others.
“Like King Taizu?”
Perhaps his ears perked up, because the Emperor’s eyes brightened.
King Taizu. Yi Seong-gye. The chance to surpass his achievements.
If that was the case, this decaying empire could be restored.
If we led the Sapo Unit and drove out the Japanese forces from Manchuria, it could really happen.
But I doubted whether the Emperor had any knowledge of military strategy.
He was someone who only cared about saving his own skin.
‘Would someone like him have the charisma to lead an army?’
Moreover, those I commanded in Shenyang were filled with venomous anger.
‘Would they follow a timid Emperor who hesitated and had a face full of fear, or would they follow me, who had already fought with them in the past?’
This would never happen.
And so, I pushed further.
“No, Your Majesty. You can accomplish even greater feats than King Taizu.”
“Greater than King Taizu?”
The devil’s voice.
I filled his mind with confidence and certainty, whispering that it was possible.
“I guarantee you, the Sapo Unit is the strongest army in East Asia. Japan has poured all its strength into Manchuria, risking their national fortune to fight against Arasa. If we defeat them in Manchuria, they will lose the ability to control the Korean Peninsula. Even if they have a navy, what can they do if they can’t attack us?”
“Indeed!”
The Emperor jumped up from his seat at once, having fallen for my whisperings.
He was so easy to manipulate.