I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 241

< The Kaleidoscope of Asia (3) >

What Joseon probably wanted was to create the impression of stationing troops in the Primorsky Territory, avoiding direct confrontation with the main Russian forces entrenched in Vladivostok, and giving the appearance that it was rightfully their land.

However, the situation was unfolding in an unexpected direction.

The unforeseen intervention of the Qing Dynasty, coupled with Russia’s embarrassing display after being thoroughly provoked by Japan, complicated matters significantly.

In fact, considering the internal struggles of both the Qing Dynasty and Russia, their current actions seemed illogical.

The Qing Dynasty was deeply embroiled in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion [a large-scale civil war in China from 1850 to 1864], and Russia was in a precarious position where its capital could be threatened if it made a wrong move.

Yet, they were scraping together troops from the provinces and sending them to the Primorsky Territory? It defied common sense.

As expected of the Russia-China duo. Those who prioritize pride over pragmatism are doomed to fail.

As the situation escalated, Europe, which had briefly enjoyed a period of relative calm, had no choice but to shift its attention back to Asia, leaving the immediate decisions to field commanders.

“It seems I’ll have to join the Asian fleet. I trust it’s acceptable if I’m absent for a while?”

“Your Highness has already earned considerable merit, so of course, there’s no issue. While your continued presence would undoubtedly boost morale, wouldn’t it be more prudent to entrust Asian affairs to those with expertise in the region?”

Admiral Parker promptly initiated the planning for a rendezvous with the Asian fleet and inquired whether the British Empire’s fleet could access the Persian Gulf via Ottoman territories.

He briefly considered the prospect of circumnavigating Africa, but fortunately, the Ottoman Empire welcomed the proposal.

“Your Royal Highness’s husband will be joining the Asian fleet via the Persian Gulf? Of course. We will ensure the British Empire’s fleet encounters no obstacles during its passage.”

Perhaps overwhelmed by the initial devastation of the war and fearing national collapse, their attitude toward me was exceedingly respectful.

“Then, Admiral, I entrust matters to your capable hands during my absence.”

“By the time you return, the Union Jack [the British flag] will be flying over Sevastopol. I wish you a safe journey.”

“Ah, we can still communicate via telegraph, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require assistance. The primary focus remains on this front.”

“Of course.”

The eyes that had been filled with doubt at the war’s outset now reflected clear respect.

This sentiment wasn’t limited to Admiral Parker.

“It is an honor to meet the esteemed Killian, Your Highness! We will ensure your smooth passage to the Persian Gulf!”

The eyes of Colonel Antoni Ilinski of the Ottoman Turkish army, who was in charge of the escort, shone with such intensity as he looked at me that it was almost unnerving.

“Our commander-in-chief, General Omar Pasha, also wished to meet Your Royal Highness’s husband. It is regrettable that time constraints prevent it.”

“I regret the same, but I anticipate seeing him during the armistice negotiations.”

“Yes! But…”

Colonel Antoni carefully observed my expression before cautiously continuing.

“Is that rumor true, by any chance?”

“Rumor? What rumor?”

“That Your Highness is the key figure who orchestrated this war’s favorable outcome. The rumor is widespread within our army.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Curious about my reputation outside the British Empire, I decided to listen.

I retrieved a piece of jerky, placed it in my mouth, and listened to the colonel’s words.

“You predicted the war, secured allies in advance to complete the anti-Russian encirclement, and devised a plan to simultaneously attack on a wide front that Russia could never cope with. Furthermore, you immediately identified the cause of the increased mortality rate among our military units and implemented a plan to improve the situation on the spot.”

“Hmm… well, it’s somewhat accurate, but I didn’t accomplish it alone. It’s thanks to the dedication of the excellent staff.”

“Even the humility to give credit to subordinates… Ah, so there is also the expectation that Your Highness’s joining the Asian fleet this time is actually part of a secret plan to cut off Russia’s supply lines.”

After listening, I had a general understanding.

In Ottoman, I’m perceived as a mastermind who practically directed all of this from behind the scenes.

Well… I am a mastermind, but you could say I’m a mastermind that everyone knows about. In that case, I can’t really call myself a mastermind, but that’s the general idea.

In fact, considering only the visible results, it’s understandable that they would perceive it that way in Ottoman.

And if Ottoman thinks that way, it’s likely that France, as well as Russia, are thinking along similar lines.

I can leverage this to my advantage.

* * *

When the final ultimatum, sent directly by Emperor Xianfeng [the eighth Emperor of the Qing dynasty], arrived at the Joseon court, Joseon fell into a state of near panic.

They had barely crossed the Tumen River and deployed troops to the Primorsky Territory, so why was the Qing Dynasty suddenly issuing an ultimatum?

There was no apparent logical connection, leaving them utterly bewildered.

“Let’s begin by accurately assessing the situation. It states here that our army initiated an attack on the Qing Dynasty, but is that accurate?”

“Your Majesty! The Ministry of War has already submitted a detailed report on this matter. General Lee Beom-gyu and his soldiers, as well as the commanders of the Wa [referring to Japanese soldiers or mercenaries] who participated in the battle, all maintain that our army bears no responsibility for the incident.”

“Then what is the Qing’s motive for making such unreasonable demands?”

“We are currently analyzing the situation due to its perplexing nature. All civil and military officials are collaborating to understand the Qing’s intentions…”

“Are you suggesting I simply wait? You are well aware that this is not a situation that allows for such delays!”

The king, appearing increasingly gaunt, rebuked the officials, who hastily lowered their heads.

Regardless of their perspective, Joseon was not at fault in this incident.

How could they interpret a group of people on horseback charging in the middle of the night as anything other than a threat?

Furthermore, they had issued multiple warnings to halt, but the Qing vanguard had disregarded them.

Consequently, they were compelled to fire cannons.

Where does Joseon’s culpability lie in this?

Of course, there was a possibility that a false report had been submitted to evade responsibility at the scene.

However, considering that both the Joseon army and the shogunate forces consistently corroborated the same account, there was little room for doubt.

In the first place, logically speaking, there was no reason for the Joseon army or the Wa army to initiate an attack on the Qing Dynasty.

Regardless of the angle, this was merely an unreasonable pretext. Therefore, they had to examine the underlying motive for making such unreasonable demands… By focusing on this, they began to discern the Qing’s objective.

“I will share my thoughts, so listen attentively and offer your opinions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Even after considering various perspectives, the Qing’s demands are merely a superficial excuse. Therefore, we must discern the underlying reason for their actions, which leads to only one conclusion: to reaffirm their position as the suzerain state that governs our Joseon.”

“Ah…”

“That seems plausible upon reflection. It is the most persuasive inference.”

The officials nodded in agreement.

There was no other explanation. The Qing’s insane demands were simply beyond the realm of reason.

“Now, our Joseon has become the epicenter of the war unfolding in this region. Furthermore, our cooperation with the British is deepening daily. In this war, we unintentionally raised troops and advanced into the Primorsky Territory. What would the Qing make of this?”

“It is reasonable to fear that Joseon will abandon the Qing’s embrace and align with the British.”

“Precisely. Therefore, the Qing is now exerting pressure on us to clarify our position. By making unreasonable demands, they are clearly delineating their position from ours.”

The Qing is the suzerain state, and Joseon is a country that pays tribute to the Qing, implying that they should submit and comply even with these unreasonable demands.

They have rarely employed such blatant and coercive methods thus far, which is further evidence of the decline in the Qing’s control.

The fact that everyone, regardless of affiliation with the Andong Kim clan or the Pungyang Jo clan, is unanimously indignant and condemning the Qing underscores this fact more than anything else.

“Your Majesty! This is an absurd demand!”

“The Qing is now demanding that General Lee Beom-gyu be punished. If we punish a general who fights for the country under the country’s orders, what soldier will go to the battlefield with pride? It is something that should never happen!”

“The Qing’s demands must be firmly rejected!”

Of course, there were also cautious voices.

“Are you suggesting that we should actually engage in conflict with the Qing now? The Qing is serious now. It is said that nearly 5,000 of the Eight Banners troops [the main military force of the Qing dynasty] are approaching the border.”

The two previous Horan Wars [referring to the two Manchu invasions of Korea in the 17th century] were remembered as unforgettable nightmares in Joseon, even after two centuries.

The Qing army they had heard of was incredibly strong, terrifying, and comprised the strongest cavalrymen of the time, unmatched by anyone.

But that was a story from the distant past, and the perception of the Qing in Joseon was declining day by day.

It’s not just because they were miserably defeated in the war with the British.

In the subsequent battle with Arasa [a Korean term for Russia], the Qing demonstrated their powerlessness and lost territory.

And although it is not a formal battle, the Joseon and shogunate armies are gleefully stirring up trouble and wandering around that Arasa territory.

The story that these Qing bastards have gone completely mad was often brought up even in the Pyeonjeon meeting [the royal court], and the Qing’s authority had fallen to the ground.

“Your Majesty! There is no need to fear the Qing Dynasty. According to news coming from Shanghai, groups called the Taiping Heavenly Army or the Heavenly Kingdom are already causing disturbances in the southern part of the Qing Dynasty.”

“That’s right. The Qing is currently unable to properly suppress even the civil unrest that is occurring in its own country. How can they send elite troops to attack us?”

“If they had those elite troops, they would have already suppressed the civil unrest. The Qing is not the Qing of the past.”

Honestly, let’s say they lost to Western powers like the British or Arasa.

But the fact that they can’t even suppress civil unrest means that their bottom line has already been revealed.

The Han Dynasty, which struggled with the Yellow Turbans [a peasant revolt in ancient China], and the Yuan Dynasty, which failed to properly repel the Red Turbans [another peasant revolt in ancient China], were exactly like that.

Large-scale civil unrest and the failure to properly suppress it were common features of the doomed Zhongyuan [referring to China] imperial family, and the Qing seemed to be following the exact same steps now.

And above all.

“Your Majesty! We are allies of the British. In fact, we are even attacking Arasa by sending troops directly as requested by the British. If the Qing sends troops to our territory, wouldn’t the British have an obligation to protect us?”

It was ironic that they were trusting the British military power rather than their own, but the Byeonposa officials [military officials] did not fear the Qing at all.

If they don’t like it, what are they going to do?

The mutual defense agreement with the British is aimed at Arasa, but as the officials said, Joseon was currently raising troops for the British.

If their base is attacked, the British will naturally send reinforcements, even if it’s just to save face.

The Qing or the British. The king, who had briefly calculated in his head, came to a conclusion in just 3 seconds.

“Summon the Qing envoy. Our Joseon acknowledges the Qing as the emperor of Zhongyuan, but we will make it clear that we are not a vassal state of the Qing.”

He could imagine the envoy foaming at the mouth and having a seizure, but that was not his problem.

If they really want to attack them, they should form an alliance with Arasa and declare war on the British.

Lee Hwan, whose eyes were turning black, decided to humbly accept the fact that his lifespan was not long.

But that’s why even more.

It felt like his mind was clearly awakened like a dying ember, and he could see the world with rational eyes.

He decided to fulfill the mission left to him during this short time.