I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 247

< Killian and Kirian (6) >

Exactly two months after the Siberian Brigade was ambushed and annihilated by the Eight Banners Army.

The armies of Qing, the Shogunate, and Joseon had completely surrounded Vladivostok.

Even as a port city, if the sea lanes had remained open, they might have survived, but the British Empire, after biding its time, made its move, and everything went wrong.

“6 o’clock! 6 o’clock! Enemy warships approaching! They’re turning their guns this way!”

“Counterattack! Counterattack! Aim at the coastal batteries! We have to shoot first!”

Russian officers shouted desperately and fired cannons at the sea.

“Wake up! We can shoot before they start shelling!”

“Commander! The range doesn’t reach! Their naval guns outrange our coastal batteries! We’ll all die if we stay here!”

“Will we live if we retreat? We have to sink those bastards to survive!”

He shouted at the top of his lungs, but the soldiers’ morale was already at rock bottom.

Surrounded on three sides, with the world’s strongest British Empire fleet attacking from the sea, it would have been surprising if morale had remained intact.

Even with high morale, it was impossible to defend the city given the clear disparity in weapon range.

Far away, the cannons that had been leisurely aiming as if to mock them stopped moving for a moment.

Bang!

“Aaaaaagh!”

A resounding explosion. Flying rocks and dust.

Through the dust that soared upwards and poured down like rain, the enemy’s cannons fired in succession.

Each time the sound of the explosion rang out, the screams of someone next to them disappeared.

The allied ships that had bravely gone out to fight the enemy ships were already feeding the fish long ago.

Those who had escaped in lifeboats before the ships sank desperately tried to climb back onto the base, but no one dared to help them.

“Aaaaaagh!”

“You suka [bitch]! You morons! Fire!”

“You idiot! What are you shooting at when it doesn’t reach!”

The enemy ships, having neutralized the coastal battery’s defenses, were gradually closing the distance and 본격적으로 [in earnest] shelling the base and harbor.

No one was unaware of the fate that awaited them if they were caught in this.

“Retreat, retreat!”

“No, stay in your positions!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Are you telling us to die here?”

No matter how much the officers threatened with their pistols, how could they be controlled when the enemy’s cannons were firing directly at them?

With a bang, the officer who had been 열심히 [earnestly] encouraging the soldiers was buried under the ruins of the collapsed base, and the soldiers retreated like a tide, as if they had been waiting for it.

The 근성 [tenacity] and 정신력 [mental fortitude] that the Russian army had boasted about were useless in the face of the British Empire’s large and beautiful 함포 [naval guns].

The Allied forces, who had been solidifying the siege from afar, watched this scene and clicked their tongues.

“General, look at that! Are those the ironclad warships of the 영길리 [English] that we’ve only heard about?”

“I’m watching. How is such precise shooting possible from that far away?”

“Not only the distance but also the power seems to be on a different level from our 화포 [cannons]. It even bursts into flames as it explodes…”

“If such ships were to come and occupy the harbor, it would be a nightmare. I understand why 영길리 [England] is called the strongest power in 구라파 [Europe].”

Lee Beom-gyu and his 무관 [military officers], who had only ever seen 판옥선 [Panokseon, a type of Korean warship] as warships, couldn’t take their eyes off the naval battle unfolding in the distance.

There had been so many rumors about 영길리 [England], but in fact, not many people really knew how strong they were.

In particular, the 무관 [military officers] of the North had only heard that 청나라 [Qing Dynasty] had been badly defeated by 영길리 [England], so it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they knew almost nothing.

And because Russia had been showing such a pathetic 모습 [sight], they even suspected that the Western powers might not be as strong as they thought.

That thought vanished at this moment.

“So, in the last war, 청나라 [Qing Dynasty] was in the same state as 아라사 [Russia] is now?”

“Yes.”

“We’re so lucky we didn’t end up like that.”

It’s a hundred times better to build a friendly relationship with a country that has such power than to confront them.

Lee Beom-gyu became even more convinced that Joseon’s participation in this war was the right choice.

“By the way, if we just keep besieging them like this, will the 아라사 [Russian] guys just surrender? A cornered rat can bite a cat, so what if they pour out?”

“…Would they really do that?”

“Having a ‘maybe’ attitude on the battlefield is a shortcut to defeat. Especially since 아라사 [Russians] are unpredictable, we need to prepare in advance.”

“Come to think of it, didn’t an order come down from the 조정 [royal court]?”

Lee Beom-gyu, recalling the 파발 [express messenger] that had come directly from the 비변사 [Defense Council] a while ago, gave a bitter smile.

“Ah, that. I can’t understand what it means at all. It says it doesn’t matter if it’s a bit 비열한짓 [despicable act], just prioritize 전공 [military merit].”

“It seems that the 조정 [royal court] is also concerned about 전공 [military merit] now that 청 [Qing] has 격파 [defeated] the main force of 아라사 [Russia] and the 왜군 [Japanese army] have 점령 [occupied] the island east of 연해주 [Primorsky Krai].”

“Even so, do we have to play at the same level as the 왜군 [Japanese army]?”

“Not just the 왜군 [Japanese army], but even 청나라 [Qing Dynasty] is doing such things… Didn’t they suddenly 기습 [surprise attack] after making an 동맹 [alliance] last time?”

“It’s the end of the world, the end of the world. How could such a 참담한짓 [terrible thing] be done in a place that boasts of being the 천자 [Son of Heaven]’s country?”

Attacking without a 선전포고 [declaration of war] has happened many times before, so it can be 넘어갈 수 있다 [overlooked] as just the 왜인 [Japanese] doing what they do.

However, suddenly 기습 [surprise attacking] after making an 동맹 [alliance] and hitting them in the back of the head is a 파렴치한짓 [shameless act] that even the Three Kingdoms period would consider a bit much.

“The 조정 [royal court] said that in the midst of this 치열한 전쟁 [fierce war], there are those who say that we are the only ones fighting too 깨끗하고 정의롭게 [cleanly and justly].”

“…Is that so?”

Is it because I’m getting 귀가 얇아져서 [easily swayed]?.

After hearing the 조정 [royal court]’s position, it seems like that might be right.

But even so, isn’t Joseon the 동방예의지국 [Land of the Rising Sun, a nation of courtesy and decorum]?

Rather, now that 청 [Qing] has 스스로 내팽개치고 [abandoned] the 법도 [laws] of 중화 [China] and stepped down from its position, shouldn’t Joseon be seen as 이어 [inheriting] the true 질서 [order] of 중화 [China]?

They are 장수 [generals], but at the same time, they are also 군자 [gentlemen].

“Even though it’s a 전쟁 [war], there are clearly 질서 [order] and 법도 [laws] that must be followed as long as it’s something that people do. Let’s continue to fight 당당히 [honorably] in our own way until the end.”

“…You are right, 장군님 [General]. I had a desire to take an easy path for a moment, but after hearing your words, I came to my senses again. Our Joseon should not play at the same level as them.”

“That’s right. So, let’s 정중히 통보 [politely inform] to the 아라사군 [Russian army]. If they 무장을 해제 [disarm] and come, we will 보장해주고 [guarantee] their 신변의 안전 [personal safety] and treat them as 포로 [prisoners] with respect.”

No matter what 비열할 수 [despicable means] 청나라 [Qing Dynasty] or Japan uses, Joseon will only fight its own fight.

The fact that they are 지키고 정도 [upholding the righteous path] without being 휘둘리지 않고 [swayed] by 삿된 유혹 [evil temptations] felt quite 뿌듯하게 [proud].

* * *

“We have received a letter from 코레야 [Korea], who are 진을 치고 [encamped] in the southwest. They say they will 우대 [treat] us 정중하게 [respectfully] as 포로 [prisoners] if we 투항 [surrender].”

Just as the harbor was completely 폐허로 화할 [reduced to ruins] by the British Empire’s 포격 [bombardment].

The 항복 권고 [surrender recommendation] sent by Joseon, as if waiting for this moment, arrived at the Vladivostok headquarters.

The worst situation with no 병력 [troops], 부족한 무기 [insufficient weapons], and even more 부족한 식량 [insufficient food].

With the 항구 [harbor] that they had to 지켜야 [defend] even 박살이 난 [destroyed], the option of continuing the fight did not exist in the first place.

However, even so, there were too many 악에 받힌 [enraged] people to 얌전히 항복 [quietly surrender].

In particular, the last remaining 자존심 [pride] could not 용납 [tolerate] the idea of kneeling to the 노란 원숭이들 [yellow monkeys, derogatory term for Asians] who had been 비열한짓 [acting despicably] from beginning to end.

“Are we so 추락 [fallen] that we have to 구걸 [beg] for our lives from the 코레야 놈들 [Korean bastards]?”

“미개한 아시안들 [uncivilized Asians]. These 새끼들 [bastards] seem to think they won because they’re good, but do we have to keep watching this 꼬라지 [state of affairs]?”

“But what else can we do? We don’t have enough 병력 [troops]…”

“And if there’s anyone who believes this letter, that person is a 병신 [idiot]. Have the 아시안들 [Asians] ever told the truth? These 새끼들 [bastards] are definitely 구라를 치는 [lying] again this time!”

Genadi, the 사령관 [commander], nodded slightly at the 발언 [remarks] of the 장교들 [officers] who were 성토 [denouncing] with 거품 [foam] in their mouths.

If there is anyone who says to believe the words of an Asian country that has 쏟아낸 구라 [spouted lies] every time they open their mouths, that guy is a 배신자 [traitor].

“This 항복 권고문 [surrender recommendation] from 코레야 [Korea] is also likely to be a 비열하기 짝이 없는 속임수 [despicable trick].”

“Does that mean…?”

“Yes. They say to 무장을 해제 [disarm] and 투항 [surrender], but in reality, they’re planning to kill us all.”

Everyone here knows that the 야폰시들 [Japanese] in Sakhalin didn’t 잡지도 포로 [take prisoners] and killed all the 병사들 [soldiers].

Besides, 청나라 놈들 [Qing bastards] also 도륙했다 [massacred] our own 병사들 [soldiers] who were 도망치다 [fleeing] like 악귀 들린 인간들 [demon-possessed humans] last time.

“But isn’t 코레야 [Korea] the only country among them that properly 선전포고 [declared war]?”

“That must have been part of the 음모 [plot]. Rather, I think they’re trying to 때리려는 our 뒤통수를 [stab us in the back] at the crucial moment while wearing the 탈 [mask] of a normal country.”

“Ah, I see. Now that I hear it, you’re right, 사령관님 [Commander].”

Even if it’s 코레야 [Korea], they’re all the same 아시아 국가 [Asian country], so why would they be special?

They must be 부리고 더러운 수작 [plotting dirty tricks] behind the scenes.

Even if you get fooled once or twice, you won’t get fooled three times.

There’s also a saying that if you get fooled three times, it’s not the fault of the 속인 놈 [deceiver], but the fault of the 당한 놈 [deceived].

Three times is not allowed. 암암 [of course], three times is not allowed.

“Then, how about we 역으로 이용하는 [turn the tables on] their 계략 [scheme] this time?”

“Yes? 역으로 이용한다니요 [Turn the tables]?”

“Even if we say we’re 항복 [surrendering] to the 코레야 놈들 [Korean bastards], they will naturally 집중하겠지 [concentrate] their 병력 [troops] on that side, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then the other side will be relatively 느슨해질 [lax], so we can 뚫고 도주하는 [break through and escape] that way. It won’t be easy, but if we 뚫은 [break through] the 포위망 [encirclement] and keep running on 말 [horseback], we might be able to 도망칠 [escape] to our territory just barely, right?”

There was also the option of 얌전히 항복 [quietly surrendering] to England, but if they were 농락당하고 [manipulated] so 처절하게 [miserably] and even 항복 [surrender] to the 적군 [enemy], they wouldn’t be able to 부지할 목숨 [save their lives] after the 전쟁 [war].

Besides, his 자존심 [pride] does not 용납 [tolerate] the idea of finishing the 전쟁 [war] after being 모욕당하고 [insulted] by the 아시아 국가들 [Asian countries] that he had only 취급했던 [treated] as 걸레 [rags] under his feet until now.

At least he had to 시원하게 한방 먹이고 [give them a good punch] go to those 놈들 [bastards] at the end, right?

“I 찬성입니다 [agree] with your words, 사령관님 [Commander]!”

“I 찬성입니다 [agree] too! We can’t 놀아날 [be played] in their 손아귀 [hands] from beginning to end!”

There was no reason to 망설일 [hesitate] since everyone 찬성한 [agreed].

Genadi asked the 전령 [messenger] from 코레야 [Korea] to 무장을 해제 [disarm] and 항복 [surrender] and 표시해달라고 [indicate] where they should come out.

And he will 공격해서 돌파할 [attack and break through] the 방어선 [defensive line] in the opposite area from the 장소 [place] that the 코레야 놈들 [Korean bastards] 표시하는 [indicate].

Just you wait, 간악한 아시안들 [cunning Asians].

If he can just 돌아가기만 [return] to his 본국 [homeland], he will 폭로해줄 전부 다 [expose everything] to the 전 세계 [entire world] how 치졸하고 사악한 계략 [petty and evil schemes] these 놈들 [bastards] 구사했는지 [used].

* * *

“They say the 아라사측 [Russian side] will 항복 [surrender]?”

The 조선측 진영 [Joseon camp], who received an answer faster than 예상 [expected], immediately 착수했다 [began] to 준비 [prepare] to 인도받을 [take custody of] the 신변 [persons] of the Russian 사령부 [headquarters].

“Hahaha, things are 풀리는군요 착착 [going smoothly] as expected when we 따르니 정도대로 [follow the righteous path].”

“Didn’t I say that it’s good to 지키는 중심 진중하게 [maintain composure] in times like these? So they must have 알아준 [recognized] this side’s 진심 [sincerity].”

To be honest, they thought there was less than 1푼 [a tiny fraction] chance that they would 투항 [surrender].

If they were the type of 놈들 [guys] who would 진짜 할 [actually do it] if you 막말로 항복하란다고 [told them to surrender], they wouldn’t have 벌이지도 전쟁 [started a war] until now, right?

But they’re actually saying they’ll 받아들이겠다 [accept] this side’s 요구 [request].

Perhaps the 아라사측 [Russian side] judged that it would be easier to 확보하기 안전 [ensure safety] to 의탁하는 [entrust] their bodies to this side than to 왜 [Japan] or 청 [Qing].

Compared to those who have 친 뒤통수를 [stabbed in the back] like 밥먹듯이 [eating rice], this side didn’t have such 전력 [history] yet.

“Keep the 병력 [troops] at the 접선 지역 [rendezvous point] to a 최소한 [minimum] so that the 아라사 지휘관들 [Russian commanders] don’t 불안해 [feel uneasy], and 자제하도록 [refrain from] too much 과한 무장 [excessive armament].”

“I understand. Then the other 지역은 [areas]?…”

“Even though the 전쟁 [war] hasn’t ended yet, 경계를 철저히 [maintain strict vigilance] on the other side. Let’s just do everything 정석대로, 정석대로 [by the book].”

If the 병력 [troops] in the 접선 지역 [rendezvous point] are 돌려놓으면 [returned] to 경계 [guard] the opposite side, it will give them even more 안정감 [reassurance].

Even though they didn’t 실질적으로 입힌 심대한 피해 [inflict significant damage] to the 적군 [enemy], 잡는다면 [capturing] the 적의 사령관 [enemy commander] as 포로 [prisoner] would be a 상당한 전공 [considerable achievement].

The 조선측 진영 [Joseon camp] was just 기분이 좋았다 [in a good mood] at the thought that they had 세웠다는 공 충분한 [achieved enough merit] without having to use 비열한 방법 [despicable methods].

However, on the 약속의 당일 [appointed day].

Genadi 조직해 별동대 [organized a separate unit] 얼마 남지 않은 [with the few remaining] and 몰래 움직였다 부대 [secretly moved the troops] to 돌파하려 [break through] the 진영 [camp] of the 조선 군 [Joseon army], who must have 허술해졌을 방비 [weakened their defenses] by now.

“By now, those 놈들 [bastards] must have 대부분의 병력을 대기시켜 [stationed most of their troops] in the 접선 장소 [rendezvous point]. So there must be 거의 없을 병력 [almost no troops] in this 반대 방향 [opposite direction].”

“Then we’ll 돌격해 보겠습니다 [charge] first. 사령관님 [Commander], please 따라오십시오 [follow] a little later.”

“No, I’ll 따라가도록 [follow] right away if you guys go first. It’ll be a big deal if 병사들 [soldiers] come from the other side if we 괜히 시간을 끌었다가 [waste time].”

The 논의 [discussion] was 간략하게 [brief], and the 행동 [action] was 신속하게 [swift].

Genadi, having 끝낸 모든 준비 [finished all preparations], 돌입했다 [launched] to 작전에 [the operation] to 뚫기 위해 [break through] the 포위망 [encirclement] of the 조선군 [Joseon army] with the 병사들 그대로 [soldiers as they were].

And…

타타탕! [Sound of gunfire]

“Enemy! It’s an enemy 기습 [surprise attack]!”

“It’s the 기습 [surprise attack] of 아라사 [Russia]! Everyone 응전하라 [engage]!”

“What, what is it? Why is there even more 병력 [troops] than when we 정찰했을 [scouted] last time!”

“S, 사령관님 [Commander]! There are too many of them!”

“Damn it! You 저열한 코레야 놈들 [inferior Korean bastards]! You 간파하고 [saw through] our 노림수를 [intentions] and 쳐놓았다 함정을 이중으로 [set a double trap]!”

Was it a 패착 [mistake] to try to 써보려 속임수를 [use tricks] against the 태생부터 치한 아시안들 [inherently cunning Asians]?

The 별동대 [separate unit], 당황한 [panicked] by the 응전 [engagement] of the 코레야군 [Korean army], whose number had 오히려 배 가까이 늘어난 [nearly doubled] than when they 살펴보았을 이틀 전 [checked two days ago], had to 도주해 [flee] without any 소득 [gain].

And in the 와중에 [midst], 사령관 겐나디 [Commander Genadi], who had 떨어진 말에서 [fallen from his horse], had to 당해야만 [suffer] the 치욕 [humiliation] of being 잡히는 [captured] as 포로 [prisoner] by the 코레야군 [Korean army] he had 멸시하던 [despised] so much.

He was 외치는 [shouting] that they were 비열하다 [despicable] until his 목이 터져라 [throat burst] as he was 끌려가는 [being dragged away], but 안타깝게도 [unfortunately], there was 아무도 [no one] who could 이해해줄 수 있는 그 말을 [understand his words].

* * *

I was 여념이 없었다 [preoccupied] with 찍느라 인증샷 [taking commemorative photos] to 남을 역사 [leave in history] with my 휘하의 사령관들 [commanders] after the 점령 [occupation] of the 항구 지대 [harbor area] 완벽히 끝나고 [completely ended] and 내린 서 멋들어지게 [descending stylishly] from the 군함 위에 [warship].

“Your Highness! Please raise your arm a little more! Ah, and 함장님 윌리엄 [Captain William], please 붙어주십시오 [stand] a little closer to Your Highness. The person on the far side is 짤려서 안나옵니다 [cut off]. Yes! That’s it. Good, good. I’m 찍습니다 [taking the picture]! One, two, three! Please stay as you are!”

한컷 [One shot] against the background of the 해안포대 블라디보스톡 [coastal battery Vladivostok] completely 박살난 [destroyed].

And 또 한컷 [another shot] against the background of the 유니온 잭 휘날리는 [Union Jack fluttering] in the 기지 저 멀리 [base far away].

Now, all that’s left is to 잡기 as 포로 [capture as prisoner] the 연해주 사령관 [Primorsky Krai commander] who must be 웅크리고 like a 너구리 [hiding like a raccoon] inside 저 안쪽 [that inside], and this side’s 일 [work] is almost 마무리 다 [finished].

If they were 인간 눈치가 있는 [had any sense], they should have 항복을 [surrendered] already, but if they’re going to 버티겠다면 [hold out] until the end with their 꼴에 자존심 [so-called pride], I have no choice but to 끌고 내려와 [drag them down] them directly.

Just as I was 만들고 시각자료 쓸만한 그렇게 [making useful visual materials] and about to 명하려 제압을 병사들을 보내 [order the troops to suppress],.

한명이 장교 [An officer] 걸어온 빠른 걸음으로 [walked quickly] 다급히 나를 찾았다 [urgently looking for me].

“Your Highness. There’s 연락이 [contact] from the 조선군측 [Joseon army]. They say they’ve 잡았답니다 [captured] the 적군의 사령관 [enemy commander] as 포로 [prisoner].”

“…음? [Hmm?] They 잡았다고 사령관 [captured the commander]?”

“Yes.”

“No, why is that 인간 잡히는 there 대체 [guy captured there]?”

“The 러시아군은 주장하고 [Russian army claims] that they 당했다고 함정에 파놓은 조선군이 [were trapped by the Joseon army]. I guess they 잡은 써서 계략 뭔가 아무래도 [used some kind of scheme]. It seems that 아시아 is 특화되어 in that 쪽 이번에 보아하니 [Asia is specialized in that area this time].”

Is it 조선 [Joseon]’s turn this time, following Japan and 청나라 [Qing Dynasty]? Well, I was wondering why they were 혼자 잠잠 [quiet alone] while the other two countries were 설치고 [running wild] all this time.

I 일단 만류하고 [stopped] the 사령관 [commander] who was about to 내리려 공격 명령 [issue an attack order] and 계획을 변경했다 [changed the plan] to 보러 가기로 [go see] the 얼굴 [face] of the 패장 [defeated general].

By the way, that’s really 신통방통하네 [amazing]. What 치사한 계략 [dirty trick] did they 부렸기 대체 [use] to 성공하는데 생포 the 사령관 [successfully capture the commander]?

Did the 옛 기억 [old memories] of 친 뒤통수를 거란 [stabbing the Khitans in the back] 되살아나기라도 [revive] after seeing 청나라 [Qing Dynasty]’s 전략 [strategy] and 돌아가던 강화를 과거 [returning to the past]?

If they 썼다면 수단을 너무 비열한 [used means too despicable], it would be 나을 거 같다 [better] to 해 주는 정도는 살짝 경고 [give a slight warning] as 킬리언 국서 대영제국의 [Killian, the British Empire’s envoy] then.

If not, well, I could 적당히 꼽사리 끼면 [join in appropriately] as 기리안 종친 조선’s [Kirian, Joseon’s relative].

킬리언도 어쨌거나 기리안도 없다 마음은 놓칠 기회를 좋은 이 [Neither Killian nor Kirian wants to miss this good opportunity].

“불러 다시 사진사들 기자들과 [Call the photographers and reporters again]. 찍어보자고 더 한장만 사진 [Let’s take one more picture].”