I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 327

The most effective way to participate in a war is to ally with a belligerent nation.

Japan, with its centuries of internal strife, understood this principle intimately.

Joseon [an old Korean kingdom], too, historically favored a strategy of ‘distant offense and close friendship,’ maintaining strong ties with the Ming Dynasty and keeping the Jurchens [a Tungistic people who lived in the northeast of China] in check.

The Ming and Joseon employed a tactic of supporting weaker Jurchen tribes to exacerbate internal divisions.

The problem arose when Nurhaci [founder of the Qing dynasty], the Qingtaizu [another name for Nurhaci], grew too powerful by absorbing all the support from the Ming.

“To transport troops across the Yellow Sea, securing the Shandong Peninsula is paramount.”

Coincidentally, the Qi state, centered around Shandong, was struggling to expand into the Central Plains due to pressure from the Taijin Dynasty.

Considering that Qi, one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States period [a period in ancient China characterized by warfare], ultimately failed to overcome Qin and was destroyed, the situation held a certain ironic amusement.

Joseon initially approached Qi with a proposal to open trade.

They then enticed them by offering to sell antiquated weaponry like bows and spears, items no longer in active use in Joseon.

While these items were considered ancient artifacts in a rapidly modernizing Joseon, they remained viable weapons in the Central Plains.

Unsurprisingly, Qi accepted the offer, and Joseon enjoyed a steady profit by liquidating the military supplies stockpiled in its warehouses.

Consequently, Qi, teetering on the brink of collapse, found a lifeline, while the Taijin Dynasty, which had anticipated conquering Qi within a few years, was thrown into disarray.

“Joseon must immediately cease its involvement in other countries’ wars!”

“We are merely engaging in trade, yet you find excessive fault. Are you suggesting we halt all commerce?”

With Japan joining the fray, seizing the opportunity to sell its own surplus weapons to Qi, the atmosphere in the northern region became increasingly volatile.

Of course, this didn’t mean that Qi, though cornered, suddenly overwhelmed its neighboring countries.

However, the continued influx of weapons allowed them to conscript troops and maintain a fighting stance, which defined the current state of the northern war.

As Qi, once on the verge of collapse, managed to hold its ground, Taijin grew desperate, and the other northern countries intensified their battle to seize Beijing.

For Jin, located south of Qi, reaching Beijing without traversing Qi was impossible.

Feeling the pressure, they issued a stern warning to Joseon and Japan.

“We reiterate our warning. If you do not immediately cease supporting Qi, we will not stand idly by.”

“A~lright, alright. Joseon will refrain from selling weapons to Qi; let us compromise at this point.”

They weren’t lying. Not technically.

Three days after the Taijin Dynasty, satisfied, withdrew its threat, Joseon changed its national name to the Korean Empire and declared the era name as Gyeongdeok [a Korean era name].

Naturally, support for Qi resumed a mere three days later.

“From this point forward, this transaction is guaranteed by His Majesty the Emperor of the Korean Empire…”

“Those sons of bitches dare to humiliate us!”

Joseon faithfully adhered to its promise not to *sell* weapons, but if the Taijin Dynasty were satisfied with such a flimsy excuse, they wouldn’t have issued an ultimatum in the first place.

Finally, the enraged Taijin Dynasty dispatched ships disguised as pirate vessels to plunder Joseon merchant ships traversing the Yellow Sea.

Simultaneously, Joseon, as if anticipating this, declared war and proclaimed its intention to dispatch troops to Qi.

The northern conflict was escalating into a full-fledged war in every sense.

※※※

Qingdao, the capital of Qi on the Shandong Peninsula.

This peculiar land, whose name was written with the characters for ‘island’ but was not actually an island, was bustling with activity for the first time in a long while.

After a prolonged period of endurance, the relief forces from Joseon had finally arrived.

“Welcome! Warriors of Joseon!”

“Thank you, but we are now the Korean Empire, not Joseon.”

“Ah, that’s right. Welcome, warriors of the Korean Empire!”

“Thank you for the warm reception. I am Ryu Hyowon, the commander-in-chief of this operation. If you meet our requirements, you will have nothing to worry about in the future.”

Unlike before, the soldiers of the Korean Empire, including Ryu Hyowon, were clad in Western-style uniforms.

A Qi official, observing them with a skeptical expression, inquired.

“But when did Jo… no, the Korean Empire undergo such a transformation?”

“Reforms have been steadily progressing for quite some time. This is merely the first time we are showcasing them to the world.”

“Ah… so the weapons you wield are similar to those of European countries?”

“Disclosing the precise capabilities of our weaponry is not possible, but rest assured, they are among the finest in Asia. Except for those in French Guangzhou [a city in China], of course.”

In fact, within the continent where remnants of the Qing Dynasty lingered, Joseon was perceived as little more than a subordinate.

It was akin to how Joseon once looked down on Japan as the Wa [an ancient name for Japan].

Of course, Joseon had significantly adjusted its perception through reconnaissance disguised as exchanges with Japan. However, the continental powers still lacked a proper understanding of both Joseon and Japan.

‘Hmm… they’re putting on a rather intimidating display, but can I truly trust these fellows? Is it all just for show? Sprinkling ashes on a chicken doesn’t transform it into a black-boned fowl. Joseon, of all places…’

They were grateful for the arrival of support troops, but honestly, they couldn’t suppress their distrust.

To such an extent that voices within Qi even questioned, ‘We possess our own pride; why must we rely on Joseon?’

“Ah, now that I recall, I heard that Wa is also dispatching troops to support us…”

“And what was your response?”

“They stated their intention to send support troops, and there was no reason to decline. I conveyed our grateful acceptance.”

“So they too… but Japan hasn’t been attacked by Taijin, have they?”

“Joseon is an ally of France, and Japan is also an ally of France, so they employed the logic that a friend’s enemy is an enemy.”

As expected, the reasoning of those who advocated the righteous path differed.

This time, they were joining based on the rationale that they had to assist their allies, thus necessitating their involvement.

Ryu Hyowon recalled the orders he had received before the expedition and relayed them to his officers.

“We will crush the main force of Taijin before the Japanese arrive. As this is the inaugural expedition of the Korean Empire, there must be no shortcomings.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ryu Hyowon, having issued the order, addressed the Qi official once more.

“I understand that you are still engaged in local skirmishes with Taijin. Could you furnish us with a detailed map and guide us to the front lines?”

“Of course. The news of support arriving from Joseon will significantly boost our army’s morale. Now, let us commence by quenching our thirst with our specialty, Qingdao green tea, before we depart.”

Ryu Hyowon, having received the tea, took a sip.

The green tea wasn’t too bad.

※※※

The northern countries, embroiled in their own conflicts reminiscent of the Warring States period, paid scant attention to Joseon’s participation in the war.

That’s because it was Joseon.

What difference could it make if that shabby Eastern country, which had been struggling until now, simply changed its national name?

“If changing our name made us adept at fighting, we’d rename ourselves France and fight from now on. Hahaha!”

It was also ludicrous that those who had been subordinate to the order of the Central Plains were now proclaiming themselves empires as soon as the Son of Heaven [the Chinese emperor] disappeared.

Moreover, when news circulated that the number of troops they had confidently declared war with was a mere 1,000, such ridicule intensified.

“Too many to come to make peace with us, and too few to wage a war?”

In reality, the Taijin Dynasty, which clashed with Joseon for the first time, paid little heed to the Joseon army.

Having mobilized over 50,000 troops, Taijin confidently advanced to the front lines to annihilate the Qi and Joseon armies in one fell swoop.

The opposing Qi-Joseon allied forces comprised approximately 25,000 Qi troops and a mere 1,000 Joseon troops.

“Today, we shall crush all of their resistance and pave the way to Qingdao! Beijing shall be ours!”

The Taijin soldiers, who shouted so confidently and charged forward, were massacred within a matter of minutes.

With a rattling sound, a hail of bullets swept through the ranks of the Taijin soldiers.

“Ugh!”

“W-what is that!”

“Is that the Joseon’s Singijeon [a type of Korean rocket arrow]!”

“You idiot! That’s a gun! What kind of Singijeon fires bullets!”

“What are you babbling about! Guns are weapons that fire one bullet at a time, but that thing fires bullets indiscriminately… Aaaagh!”

The Taijin soldiers, still adhering to outdated fighting styles, maintained dense formations and linear infantry tactics.

However, even in its early form, the greatest weakness of these dense formations was the Gatling gun that the Korean Empire army had brought with them.

As the machine gun spewed fire relentlessly and the soldiers armed with French rifles continued to fire incessantly, the battle was swiftly decided.

In the first place, a proper fight was impossible when soldiers who lacked even many matchlock guns were deployed against machine guns.

So much so that the shooters didn’t even bother targeting the enemy soldiers who were turning tail and fleeing.

“Th-th-th-that… what is that weapon…”

Of course, the Qi general was just as dumbfounded as the Taijin commanders.

The scene unfolding before his eyes was neither war nor battle.

Merely a one-sided massacre and slaughter.

Even the generals who had fought on numerous battlefields were reluctant to open their eyes and confront the terribly mutilated corpses scattered everywhere.

And the Korean Empire soldiers who wielded the weapons that caused it seemed like incarnations of the devil.

The condescending attitude they had held towards Joseon until now vanished in a single battle.

In fact, Ryu Hyowon, who was using the weapons in actual combat for the first time, was also half out of his mind, but fortunately, no one noticed this fact.

“It’s the latest French weapon. We paid a considerable sum to acquire it. Even then, we don’t have complete ownership; we must return it when the lease period expires.”

“F-French weapons… indeed.”

He had thought that no matter how much those guys imitated the Western appearance, how well could they truly do it?

It was a grave misjudgment.

“With this battle, we can confidently assert that our army’s combat prowess has been sufficiently demonstrated. Let us proceed to accept Taijin’s surrender, and we shall discuss the remaining matters after the Japanese army arrives.”

“Yes, yes! Of course. Is there any doubt? Hahaha.”

At that moment, Qi realized that the possibility of them losing this war was approaching zero.

They realized now what had already been decided a long time ago.

And as if to validate that prediction, the Japanese army, which landed a week later, also literally ground the northern army to dust.

If the war had concluded here, the northern conflict would have been recorded as an advertising war in which the Korean Empire and Japan successfully showcased their modernization.

However, as it became evident that the gap between the countries that had embraced modernization and the countries in the Central Plains that were mired in the old era had widened significantly, the situation shifted.

[Manchukuo [a puppet state created by Japan in Manchuria], as an ally of France, has decided to lend a hand to the Korean Empire and Japan. Rapid advance beyond the Great Wall!]

[Vietnam, as an ally of France, has resolved to send support troops. They have agreed to suppress those who disrupt peace in the north!]

The two countries, which had been observing cautiously until now, copied and pasted the justification that Japan had initially claimed and joined the front lines.

Instead of being resolved, the situation had become even more expansive.