Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Korea has nothing to show from this war except the Korean Forward Detachment. Rather, Japanese forces effectively used Korea's railways, roads, and ports for the war while the Korean Empire government just watched.

'I heard that Russian Tsar enjoys purges. What should we do about this.'

'Though we had no choice, will those Russians understand that?'

'Can the Korean Empire... remain as the Korean Empire?'

Meanwhile, news spread that there were other Koreans who achieved great merit in this war on the Korean peninsula.

Among them the representative figure was Kim Du-seong.

He was known for substantially encouraging and supporting Koreans in Maritime Province to participate in the war.

"I'm not such a person!"

"Teacher Choi Jae-hyung, all Koreans and Russians in Maritime Province know. Who else but you could supply guns and ammunition to Korean Forward Detachment marksmen and organize independent Korean units?"

"I'm telling you it wasn't me!"

"No, you're already the only candidate even if you deny it..."

Petka Choi. Choi Jae-hyung was utterly bewildered by the group seeking him out.

By chance receiving kindness from a Russian captain in his youth, he learned commerce and Russian language and naturally settled in Maritime Province.

Later, by chance getting an opportunity to raise business through military supplies and after Nikolai Bunge and those madness-filled bureaucrats arrived, he built even greater wealth.

Helping in this war wasn't from any great intention either.

"...Sigh, fine, I am Kim Du-seong."

"Teacher!"

"Originally the Russian Empire was the country that first proposed Korea's neutrality to Japan and other powers. I also confirmed while living here that they sincerely treat immigrants. So I only helped in this war, I have no intention of receiving commendation or promoting my achievements."

That's really all.

The reason for creating independent Korean units? If you feel nothing seeing that Jewish regiment, you're not qualified to lead Maritime Province Koreans.

The reason for helping the Korean Forward Detachment? Should I just watch when fellow ethnic marksmen can't fight properly because they have no food and no bullets?

"Though I am Kim Du-seong... I believe you know why I used an alias."

In the end, the reason the name Petka Choi worked with those Russians was because he was helpful to the Russian Empire, not because they had great affection for Koreans.

Especially now with the Far East gloomy from Chairman Bunge's death, going to seek them out and bringing up Korean independence would hardly please them.

"If there's anything surprising coming to Maritime Province, it's that your portrait hangs in every Korean household."

"Tch, I clearly told them not to..."

Watching Choi Jae-hyung keep waving hands and trying to back away, Seo Jae-pil of the Independence Club slowly opened his mouth.

"Also investing in the struggling Daedonggongbo newspaper, establishing the immigrant Korean organization Gweoneophoe, recently joining the Maritime Province local government. I believe it's all because your affection for Koreans and the Korean Empire hasn't cooled."

"I'm just an ordinary person. Why do you think that?"

"Because I was the same. Because I believed we could throw off Japanese oppression with American help. So I joined the American military in the Spanish war and gathered Koreans to ruminate and ruminate again on the value of Korean independence."

"..."

Seo Jae-pil who lived a life no less eventful than Choi Jae-hyung.

He spoke with bright eyes.

"I was wrong. Americans can never be Korea's shield. But you're different. Aren't you proving by your very existence that Koreans can be helpful to Russia?"

At that sincere confession, even Choi Jae-hyung could no longer back away.

"You praise me too much."

"Whether you held great ambitions or not, you've already risen high. I'm not asking you to be loyal to the Joseon dynasty. Please, raise your voice so Korea's independence can be maintained. Even just the method. Or even advice would be good."

"Haah..."

Hearing the earnest request, Choi Jae-hyung felt something buried deep in his chest stirring.

No matter how much he received Russian grace and lived as a Russian, identity isn't something that can be changed like clothes overnight.

The language that came easily from his mouth and culture settled in his mind were still clearly Korean.

"If you insist, I'll share my limited insight. Though I don't know much about international affairs, I know the Tsar considers this place important enough to visit several times. Korea? Does this powerful great empire seem like it would covet tiny Korean land?"

"...No?"

"Just this Manchurian land is several times Korea's size."

Russia has no land greed. More precisely, they don't need farmland.

"Soon when the peace talks with Japan end, Russia's hand will reach Korea in some form."

"Of course."

"If you want Korean independence, you must desperately prove that Korea doesn't go against this empire's interests. In that sense, sweeping away national traitors led by the Korean Forward Detachment was very well done."

But it's not enough. The imperial government won't be satisfied with self-purification without Russian hands.

"Don't misunderstand. The Russian Empire isn't Japan. They didn't fight this war coveting and trying to take the Korean peninsula."

"Then what was it for?"

"The Qing."

Choi Jae-hyung who became a great magnate living as Petka Choi knew exactly where this Far East economic system pointed.

This place is Russia's foothold for properly eating up the Qing.

Korea is just the appetizer that came before.

"So the country called the Korean Empire. Must show how helpful it can be in eating up that Qing."

"But the Korean Empire is a poor country. Since founding it has few products and people have never not gone hungry."

Does it have resources to sell to the Russian Empire, does it harvest the wheat they use as staple food?

This country has nothing. Though Choi Jae-hyung rather said Korea could maintain independence because of that, Seo Jae-pil couldn't agree.

This way there's no benefit for Russia in keeping Korea independent.

But Choi Jae-hyung burst into laughter and shook his head.

"This country you see. The country itself is just a port from the Russian Empire's perspective. Three sides are sea and not frozen a single day of the year while having big countries on both sides. Also when sailing the Pacific Ocean from far away to come to the Asian continent, it's the first peninsula you reach and right next to the Qing where all sorts of great power exchanges happen."

"...Was the Korean Empire in such a position?" Find exclusive stories on empire

"You see? The Russian Empire has no reason to take anything. They probably don't even want to."

What Russian could refuse if the Korean Empire approached introducing itself as a port?

"Hand them the sea. They won't be interested in the land."

Conviction filled Choi Jae-hyung's words.