I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 222

July 1849.

The border between Russia and the Ottoman Empire: a tangled mess.

The eastern reaches of the Danube River.

Bang!

Along the border, where disputes had become a common pastime.

Gunfire and artillery shells flew from the opposite side.

The pinnacle of human technology, mercilessly taking human lives.

It was the Russian army that unleashed this wave of violence, surging forward with unrestrained force.

“Charge! Kill all the Turk bastards!”

“For the Emperor!”

“Long live the Russian Empire!”

The Ottoman defense, expecting only the usual localized skirmishes, was overwhelmed.

The Russian army, sweeping through their lines, continued to advance relentlessly.

“What’s the situation?”

“The weak Turk bastards are daring to resist our Empire’s army. At this rate, we can wipe them out by the end of the day and raise the Empire’s flag on this coast.”

“Good, good. Everything is going smoothly.”

The division commander, in charge of this offensive, nodded with a satisfied smile at the adjutant’s report.

*As expected, those weak Turk bastards are no match for the Great Russian Empire.*

*We’ve been quiet until now, and those insignificant pests thought they were on equal footing and started to crawl up.*

Originally, the eastern front was considered a backwater, a place where those who hadn’t excelled were sent, where the Russian army could no longer easily expand.

However, as Russia grew wary of Western European powers and couldn’t aggressively pressure the Ottomans, the situation became uncertain.

But that’s all in the past.

Now that the order has been given to boldly attack the Ottomans and reclaim territory, there’s no need to hesitate.

“A week. In a week, this area will be under our Empire’s rule. His Majesty will recognize our army’s efforts and bestow the highest honors upon us.”

“As you say!”

“We trust and follow only the division commander!”

This isn’t just about taking small bites; it’s an opportunity to seize everything at once.

If Russia, growing stronger every day, is a lion, then the Ottoman Empire is like an old, decaying hyena on its deathbed.

Frankly, even if we push all the way to Anatolia [the heartland of modern-day Turkey], I doubt they’ll have the strength to resist.

*I thought I would retire as a division commander, but if I achieve more here, a rapid promotion is no longer just a dream.*

And this sentiment was shared not only by the division commander but by all the staff in their respective positions.

“Before additional directives come down from the homeland, shouldn’t we send as many Turk bastards as possible to the afterlife?”

“That’s a good idea. If they recognize our army’s superior capabilities and the clear difference in power, the pen-pushers in the capital will be able to muster a little more courage.”

“His Majesty will praise our achievements!”

Everyone’s hearts were united!

This is what friendship, courage, and victory are all about.

With everyone from the division commander to the staff united and marching towards glory, how could we possibly fail?

Just as they were ambitiously about to designate the next target, one of the staff cautiously spoke up.

“But what if England or France intervene while we’re pushing the Ottomans like this?”

“······?”

“······.”

The reason why Russia hadn’t been able to fully subdue the Ottomans, despite their weakness, until now.

The reason why they had been wasting time in these border regions was finally brought up, but the division commander scoffed as if it were absurd.

“How foolish. Do you call that a question?”

“…Yes?”

“Why do you think the higher-ups, who have been quiet until now, suddenly ordered us to attack? Of course, they must have made all the calculations before issuing the order.”

“Ah-ha!”

“Use your common sense. If you don’t want people saying the head on your shoulders is just for show. Do you think our Emperor would have attacked the Ottomans without considering such a simple factor?”

Until now, Russia had been unable to wage war against the Ottomans freely, fearing the intervention of England or France.

But the fact that they had started to act this time meant one of two things.

Either they were confident that it didn’t matter if England or France intervened, or they were certain that England or France would not intervene.

The division commander naturally believed the latter, and the other staff seemed to agree.

“Those weak English and French bastards wouldn’t dare choose war with us just to side with the Ottomans. Of course, if the war drags on, it will be easier for them to join the war, but if we quickly push those guys away, what can France or England do?”

“That’s right!”

“As expected, the division commander’s insight is extraordinary!”

“Um…but what if England or France really do intervene…?”

“Ah! That won’t happen! You’re ruining the taste of alcohol—no, the taste of war—by saying such unlucky things.”

“If you’re going to keep undermining our morale with nonsense, just go to the rear and push your pen [do administrative work].”

At the division commander’s rebuke, the adjutant, who had been the only one to express caution, quietly shut his mouth and retreated into the background.

England and France, who had only been bullying weak Africans and Asian savages until now, would never have the guts to declare war against a great power like Russia.

No, that’s how it has to be.

It absolutely has to be that way.

* * *

Several days later.

When this shocking news arrived in Paris, the capital of France, a burst of loud voices echoed through the palace.

“What the hell is this nonsense!”

“T, that is…”

“Russia can never attack the Ottomans! I said that turning England, France, and Austria into enemies is something only moronic idiots would do!”

French Prime Minister François Guizot, who had ambitiously pushed this matter forward, was on the verge of losing all his hair from the shock.

By successfully placing the holy city of Jerusalem, which Catholics had dreamed of even in their dreams, virtually under France’s sphere of influence, Louis-Philippe’s support soared.

-The medieval Crusaders poured hundreds of thousands of lives and 100 years into it, yet failed to seize the holy land, but Great France achieved that miracle in just three days.

Just as Jesus was resurrected in three days, the holy land was restored from the hands of Islam to the hands of Catholics in three days.

Moreover, the fact that France had quickly seized the initiative that the British Empire had originally tried to promote was also highlighted, and Guizot’s popularity soared as well.

“As expected, our Prime Minister! I believed in you!”

“The protector of Christianity is France! Where are those rootless *잡것들* [jabgeotdeul – a Korean term for insignificant people] like the Church of England!”

There was nothing of great practical benefit, but sometimes justification and *뽕* [ppong – a Korean slang term for hype or nationalistic fervor] take precedence over practicality.

Especially in Europe, where religious sentiments remained strong, Christian *뽕* was clearly a meaningful policy and was proving effective.

In fact, Louis-Philippe had readily given his permission after being persuaded by Prime Minister Guizot’s logical arguments.

At the time, the grounds he presented clearly sounded plausible.

-Russian Emperor Nicholas is a monarch with a sense of reason, so he won’t do anything that would make him eat his own poop [go back on his word/actions].

-Some localized battles may occur, but Russia will not engage in a full-scale war with the Ottomans.

-There is no country on Earth that can win a war against England, France, and Austria at the same time. Russia would not forget this fact unless they were crazy.

So the check given to the Ottomans is just an empty promise, and there will be no need to actually pay it for the time being.

It was a clever move that made you want to slap your knee and applaud, and before he knew it, France had signed a mutual defense treaty with the Ottomans.

In addition, because the Ottomans might believe this and provoke Russia, a special clause was added stating that wars arising from provoking other countries would be invalid.

But ta-da! The idiots who were said to be the most unlikely in the world have appeared?

“Why the hell are those guys suddenly annexing the principalities belonging to the Ottomans without permission!”

“T, that is, I think they didn’t know we had signed an agreement with the Ottomans yet. The analysis is that the timing was awkwardly misaligned…”

“Then we need to let them know right away! If a war breaks out between Russia and the Ottomans like this, we’ll automatically join the war!”

If we declare war first, England and Austria will join us, but it’s clear that the country that jumps into the war first will suffer the most damage.

Managing the holy land is certainly an honor that will never come again, but it was not worth going to war with Russia for that.

“Keep in mind! If a situation arises where we have to take the lead in going to war with Russia, you will have to give up your position as Prime Minister immediately! Not only you, but all the ministers in the cabinet will have to be prepared to step down!”

Even if we go to war, we must put England in the forefront and take a piggyback ride behind them.

All Prime Minister Guizot could do was nod his head silently at the King’s threat.

* * *

They really did it.

I knew they were crazy, but they really were crazy.

I already knew that, but it feels very different now that it’s actually happened.

News that Russia was attacking the Ottoman army in the Danube River region spread throughout the British Empire, and the political world immediately went into a state of emergency.

The war between Russia and Turkey is not something that can be ignored as a matter of another country.

Because the primary goal of the British Empire has always been to [unconditionally prevent Russia from advancing south].

The British Empire currently has numerous colonies overseas, but the one that provides the most overwhelming benefits is India.

Eliminating all the elements that could threaten India was the basis of the defensive strategy pursued by the British Empire, and Russia was the greatest potential threat in this strategy.

That’s because Russia was the only entity in the world that could realistically threaten British India.

Of course, in its current state, Russia can never directly threaten India either.

However, if Russia were to defeat the Ottomans and secure a path south, things could change.

Although they would have to overcome considerable difficulties, Russia could still potentially threaten India by land.

No sane country would devise such an invasion route, but unfortunately, Russia is about 100 million light-years away from sanity.

They are the ones who nonchalantly pull off the crazy act of transporting troops across Siberia to the Maritime Province [Primorsky Krai].

Seeing Russia’s actions, the leadership of the British Empire became even more determined to prevent Russia’s southward expansion.

Of course, the more reasonable voices within the British Empire dismissed the danger of war, arguing that Russia was an enlightened modern nation, but now they had no choice but to acknowledge the reality of Russia’s ambition.

“Their goal is, after all…”

“Complete control of the Black Sea and the Bosphorus Strait.”

Thanks to that, I, who received an SOS call from the parliament, was once again tasked with criticizing Russia’s recklessness and bravado in parliament day after day.

“As you all know, Russia’s target is not the already declining Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire is just a stepping stone Russia needs to achieve its goals, and their true purpose is to make the Black Sea their inland sea and gain ownership of the Bosphorus Strait. From then on, Russia’s influence will begin to extend into the Mediterranean!”

“If the Black Sea falls entirely into Russia’s hands, the Caspian Sea will follow suit. Russia will be able to transport goods more easily to Central Asia, and then India could be in danger!”

“I ask for your wisdom and strength to prevent such a thing from happening.”

Russia would be wronged, saying, ‘Are we crazy enough to cross the Central Asian desert and go to India! We have no intention of doing that!’ But what can we do?

The British Empire’s parliament, full of paranoid individuals, cannot tolerate Russia securing a route to India.

“Ah, Your Highness. But didn’t Your Highness vehemently oppose the British Empire declaring war on Russia just a few days ago? Why is that?”

“That’s what Congressman Gladstone will tell you. I also listened to the Congressman’s explanation and changed my mind.”

Originally, this was entirely my idea, but it’s best to avoid giving the impression that the British Empire’s *국서* [gukseo – a Korean term for a key figure or strategist] is manipulating international diplomacy behind the scenes as much as possible.

Gladstone, who suddenly received everyone’s attention, briefly stated the reason.

“France will declare war on Russia first. We just have to follow suit.”

“France will declare war first?”

“Even though they signed an agreement for the jurisdiction of Jerusalem, those cheapskates would never do that.”

The congressmen shook their heads with expressions that said Gladstone had finally lost his mind.

These people still don’t understand the country called France at all.

Don’t think with your head; feel with your heart.

That’s what *Élan* [French word for spirit or enthusiasm] is all about.

Just wait and see. I’m going to watch while munching on fish and chips.