I Became A Genius Of The French Royal Family [EN]: Chapter 328

The newly formed Korean Empire, the Empire of Japan, the Manchurian Empire, and the Empire of Vietnam.

The Asian powers, emboldened by their newfound strength, began to make their moves, each proclaiming their imperial ambitions.

“Our Manchurian Empire has no desire to swallow the entire Central Plains,” one representative declared. “We would be content with securing only the Dongsimeng region of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in addition to the three northeastern provinces we currently control.”

“The Korean Empire also does not particularly aim to dominate the Central Plains,” another added. “We would be satisfied with establishing a firm foothold in the Yellow Sea region, allowing us to conduct stable trade. Naturally, we will also need to extract substantial reparations from the nations of the Central Plains.”

“That is only reasonable. We are already coordinating the process of determining these reparations. But wouldn’t it be more effective for us to unite and exert pressure, rather than acting alone?”

“Two hands are always better than one, of course. And our goals are not mutually exclusive…”

Initially, the Manchurian Empire and the Korean Empire, sharing a border, clarified their non-hostile intentions towards each other.

With their objectives clearly communicated, a temporary alliance was a natural next step.

From the Manchurian Empire’s perspective, having a force in Shandong [a coastal province in eastern China] to support their advance along the northern land route would be incredibly advantageous.

Korea, still facing logistical challenges in deploying more than a thousand soldiers, also needed an allied country capable of projecting troops via land.

Of course, this collaboration wasn’t limited to just the Manchurian and Korean Empires.

“…So, your country has no intention of interfering with our plans.”

“Certainly not. Frankly, we are quite distant from your country, so there is no reason for conflict. We even have French Guangdong [a former French concession in southern China] serving as a buffer zone. Our ultimate goals lie in Yunnan [a province in southwestern China] and the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand.”

“You aim to become the dominant power in Southeast Asia… is that correct?”

“Precisely. You are free to maneuver in Northeast Asia as you see fit. We will focus our efforts in the south.”

Vietnam and Japan also readily concluded a non-aggression pact, their interests neatly aligned.

Given that everyone was an ally of France, open conflict was unlikely, but this agreement still held significance.

As the situation evolved, the four countries conceived another idea.

Instead of just bilateral agreements, wouldn’t it be far easier to achieve their aims if all four nations exerted pressure simultaneously?

“Japan informs us that Vietnam is solely focused on Southeast Asian hegemony from the outset. Would it be acceptable to collaborate with them without any complications?”

“And what about Japan itself?”

“Japan’s ambitions are similar to our own: securing trade routes and reliable sources of income for the future. In fact, they are suggesting that we join forces to establish a proper system.”

“Then shall we proceed together? As for France… frankly, we don’t need to seek their permission for every little thing, do we? We are not a vassal state.”

“Of course not. We can simply inform them of our decision later.”

Advancing into the continent!

No Asian nation could resist the allure of such potent propaganda.

Even Korea, despite its limitations, harbored a certain romanticism regarding the Northern Expedition [a historical aspiration to reclaim lost territories in Manchuria], however unrealistic.

Japan had, in the past, attempted to occupy the Ming Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644], albeit a delusional endeavor.

The Manchus had actually conquered the Central Plains, and the glory of that era was still celebrated in their history.

Vietnam, too, harbored a desire to assert itself in the Central Plains, a region that had historically looked down upon them.

Their collective aspirations converged, transforming into military might that spread across the continent.

“First and foremost, the Qi Dynasty [a fictional dynasty in this context] can no longer refuse our demands. Taejin [another fictional nation] was destroyed by the main force of our Korean Empire’s army, and Japan has occupied their capital.”

“Northern Yan [a fictional state], located in Inner Mongolia, is being successfully pushed back by our Manchurian Empire. We anticipate their surrender within the next two weeks.”

“Excellent. Everything is progressing smoothly. Now, we must adhere to one crucial principle.”

“Principle, you say?”

“We must not become overzealous and draw the ire of France. Therefore, civilian massacres are strictly prohibited. Cruel acts against surrendered enemy soldiers are also absolutely forbidden.”

Europe had established a consensus that inhumane acts were unacceptable even in wartime, a principle they upheld when forming alliances.

However, war can easily drive people to madness.

Crossing the line was an ever-present danger.

“Rest assured. Would our enlightened nations, the quickest to shed the vestiges of the old era in Asia, engage in such barbaric behavior? I pledge this in the name of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…Doesn’t your country have a rather… colorful history in that regard?”

“Ah, are you still dwelling on the events of the Imjin War [a late 16th-century Japanese invasion of Korea]? We have been completely reborn since then!”

“Manchurian Empire, please also bear this in mind. Refrain from military operations that are more brutal than necessary.”

“Don’t worry. Hahaha!”

The commander of the Korean Empire’s expeditionary force, Ryu Hyowon, felt uneasy but decided to trust his allies for the time being.

In reality, their military strength was not in question.

By using the Qi Dynasty as a shield, they could likely achieve their objectives independently.

However, the problem was their ever-growing ambition.

The overwhelming firepower of the Gatling machine guns leased from France.

And the superior combat capabilities of their soldiers equipped with modern weaponry.

They had become accustomed to the enemy falling like autumn leaves in every engagement, leading to reports filled with the phrase ‘overwhelming victory’.

Consequently, it was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress the thoughts that crept into their minds.

‘Could we actually push all the way into Beijing like this?’

He couldn’t determine whether they had become too strong or the enemy too weak, but the disparity in power was undeniable.

He received reports indicating that the atmosphere back home, recognizing this potential, was also reaching fever pitch.

It was understandable.

Frankly, had there ever been such a resounding military success in the 400-year history of Joseon [the previous Korean dynasty]?

There had been some achievements in the early years of its founding, but after the tragedy of the Imjin War, it had been a period of almost constant humiliation.

Therefore, everyone, from the emperor to the officials and the common people, felt as though a decade-old case of indigestion was finally being relieved by this victory.

They were now bidding farewell to the powerless Joseon of the past.

Ryu Hyowon received a handwritten letter from the emperor, instructing him that if it seemed feasible, they should not be constrained by their original goals and should strive for even greater gains.

With such encouragement, how could they possibly retreat and say, ‘Ah, we’ve completed our task, so we’ll begin preparations to withdraw’?

Even the Qi Dynasty, which had hoped to profit from this war, did not want the Korean Empire to leave.

“…Don’t worry about local supplies! We will provide ample support for the food and drink that our brave soldiers consume.”

He could easily surmise the Qi Dynasty’s intentions.

Recognizing the immense power of the enlightened nations, they were attempting to navigate this situation unscathed by aligning themselves with the winning side.

Regardless of how strong the four enlightened nations were, they could not simply invade the mainland and establish colonies.

They were well aware that indiscriminate colonial expansion would inevitably provoke European intervention, not to mention the logistical challenges posed by the distance.

Therefore, the need for a country to act as a mediator on the continent was becoming increasingly apparent.

In particular, the Qi Dynasty could maintain smooth communication with the Korean Empire via the Shandong Peninsula.

The Manchurian Empire could easily access the region through the Liaodong Peninsula, and it was also close to Japan.

Considering communication with all three countries, the Qi Dynasty was the most suitable candidate.

It was a natural course of action for the Qi Dynasty, fully aware of this fact, to pursue a clear strategy for survival.

‘Yes. It’s unavoidable. It’s too late to back out now, and this is the opportune moment.’

The reason why the Korean Empire, Japan, the Manchurian Empire, and even Vietnam were acting with such haste was not solely due to their intoxication with power.

That was certainly a factor, but at this moment, the attention of Europe, including France, was diverted away from Asia.

This was because a peculiar event known as the Olympics was in full swing.

In other words, if Europe began to seriously consider intervening in Asia after the Games concluded, there was a high probability that their actions would be curtailed.

“Even for us, it remains a reality that we are inferior to the European powers. Therefore, you must act with the understanding that time is limited. That is why I emphasized avoiding excessive actions. Because it becomes easier to lose sight of our goals when we feel pressured by time.”

“Lord Ryu is correct. But rest assured. His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister are also closely monitoring this war.”

If they only considered France, they might encounter unforeseen obstacles.

Although the possibility was remote, the Commonwealth [likely referring to Great Britain], Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire might intervene.

Vietnam, being relatively closer to them, was paying particular attention to the movements of the West.

“Europe is feigning disinterest, but they seem to harbor a subtle interest in Southeast Asia. They may be contemplating expanding their influence in Asia gradually, using Southeast Asia as a bridgehead.”

“But would France allow that to happen?”

“Well… they would likely impose sanctions if they did so openly, but frankly, if they intervened under the guise of protecting an allied country, it would be difficult for France to interfere.”

The other three countries coldly assessed the situation based on Vietnam’s astute analysis.

What should they do if that scenario unfolded?

If it did, they might have no choice but to temporarily yield, however reluctantly.

Just as Ryu Hyowon was about to conclude the meeting, Konoe, the Japanese representative, cautiously spoke up.

“But do we really need to be so concerned about European countries other than France?”

What nonsense was this man spouting now?

Of course, they needed to be mindful. Was he suggesting that they provoke a war of nerves with England or Spain?

“…Lord Konoe. Surely you don’t believe that your country can defeat the European powers simply because it has grown a little stronger? You need to build up your strength for decades more…”

“No, no. Of course, we also recognize that we cannot do it alone. But haven’t we four countries formed an alliance precisely for this reason? If we secure a foothold in the Central Plains with all our might now, and Vietnam expands its influence in Southeast Asia, the power of our alliance will multiply within a few years.”

“Let’s form an alliance of four countries and challenge them…”

“Indeed, even then, our combined strength may not be enough to match even one ordinary European country. But are there any countries besides France or England that can deploy a large fleet here independently?”

Eh? Listening to him… it seemed plausible.

Not only Ryu Hyowon but also the representatives from Manchuria and Vietnam wore expressions of fascination.

In reality, the only Western powers that had truly dominated Asia were France and England.

The Russians had briefly risen to prominence but were decisively defeated by France and driven out.

Other countries had dabbled in the region, but few had successfully established themselves.

Therefore, it was natural to entertain doubts, at least momentarily.

‘Is Europe just a paper tiger, with the exception of France and England?’

Of course, even if they couldn’t win individually, they might be able to overcome the challenge together.

Generally, the more people unite, the greater their confidence, a common human trait, and this tendency was even more pronounced in Asia.

“I will submit a proposal to His Majesty for now. In fact, as Lord Konoe pointed out, it seems we have little to lose. Even if we are slightly behind now, can’t we catch up quickly if we simply establish a solid foundation?”

“Precisely, precisely. Even if they are dragons, we will now become Imugi [mythical Korean creatures, lesser dragons] poised to grasp the Yeouiju [a wish-granting orb]. If we seize the Yeouiju that is the continent, we too will be able to ascend.”

The Vietnamese ambassador laughed and applauded Konoe’s words.

“That metaphor is truly inspiring. Then we shall become the Four Dragons of Asia in the future.”

“Wow, the Four Dragons of Asia! The nuance is perfect.”

“The Four Symbols of Asia, the Four Dragons of Asia. Whatever the title, it perfectly describes us, who will shine brightly in the future.”

They were endlessly praising each other, like four contented cats.

However, the meeting of the representatives, who firmly believed they were the Four Dragons, did not end there.

No one could foresee how far the self-proclaimed Four Dragons of Asia, the Four Tigers [a reference to the economic powerhouses of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore], would ultimately reach.