Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Chapter 47 Twisted Flow (3)

The respected British Japanologist Richard Storry described the Japanese people as "docile instruments of the elite."

However, Storry's assessment of the Japanese national character was wrong.

Since the Meiji Restoration, there had only been two types of Seikanron (Conquest of Korea Theory) in that archipelago:

1.The hardliners who wanted to consume Korea now.

2.The moderates who wanted to modernize a bit first, then consume it.

The option of not consuming Korea never existed, as could be confirmed in numerous speeches by Foreign Minister Count Inoue Kaoru.

<Our task is to change our empire and people like Europe has, and Korea and Qing, which refuse to change, have lost their fundamental right to independence by not modernizing!>

It wasn't just Foreign Minister Kaoru. Such speeches and tones could be easily found in any newspaper, and they all argued just one thing:

"The right to conquer. Their own development proves Korea and Qing's backwardness, and this gives them the right to conquer."

If this sounds strange, think of it as applying Darwin's survival of the fittest theory to nations and societies. In other words, nonsense.

Coming back to Storry, he describes the Japanese people as docile, weak in asserting themselves, and obedient to their superiors.

Is that really true? Conversely, isn't it the people, itching all over with imperialistic impulses since the Meiji Restoration, who poke and prod the politicians to speak up?

Even the moderates had been holding back the hardliners with "let's modernize a bit more" for 30 years, but now they must have reached their limit.

To what extent? Japanese citizens would riot in the middle of Tokyo or even attempt assassination if the diplomatic policies weren't as aggressive as they wanted.

After I requested a direct meeting with Ito and a whole month had passed, Ito finally arrived in St. Petersburg by ship.

As Ito Hirobumi was the Prime Minister representing the Emperor, we should hold protocol and ceremonies, but our situation wasn't that leisurely.

"Your Majesty, I heard you wished to meet with me."

"It's been a while. Was your European tour smooth? Is your alliance still solid?"

"..."

While this meeting isn't an official negotiation, I believe he and I can exchange opinions more definitively than negotiation teams.

"Hmm, yes. I wanted to show you this first. You might quite like it."

I pulled out one sheet from the spread pile of letters and handed it to him.

Ito seemed to understand the content without needing to read the kindly provided Japanese translation on another paper.

"My German cousin, Willy, has been sending letters consistently since my coronation nine years ago. He always called me the savior of the white race, Europe's protector. While I can't entirely agree... after hearing it repeatedly, it strangely feels good."

"Isn't this German government's Yellow Peril propaganda?"

"Considering the Kaiser is above the German government, wouldn't it be more correct to see it as the will of the German Empire?"

What I handed to Ito was indeed a letter that Wilhelm II sent me without fail every year.

While greetings and recent news changed each time, there was exactly one constant - the Yellow Peril theory disguised as praise.

'I didn't know Wilhelm II was so serious about the Yellow Peril.'

Yet amusingly, this Yellow Peril theory perfectly matches Japan's justification, just with different subjects and objects.

"How about it, familiar isn't it? He says God personally chose me to protect Europe from Asia's threat."

"While I don't know much about European gods, I must have lived too long in the land of Shinto to believe in such superstitions."

"My, studying would show Shinto isn't so different."

Ito consistently pretended ignorance about the Kaiser's letter.

Since I hadn't called him just to make such points, I let his brazenness slide.

After the letter discussion passed, Ito began with formal diplomatic greetings.

"Forty-two years ago today. Russian Empire warships invaded Tsushima. The shogunate, ignorant of international affairs then, couldn't respond wisely and barely resolved the incident with help from British Minister Sir Rutherford Alcock."

"That must have been so."

"Now that Tsushima risks becoming Korea. The only difference is the shogunate is gone, and Sir Alcock isn't here."

"Huh, you're not the Japan of the past?"

Ah, that's what I wanted to say.

If there's one way Japan has changed most from 10 years ago, it would clearly be their successful military strengthening using the Sino-Japanese War reparations.

However, the empire's military power has been invested in since my father's time, not just mine.

The Japanese military strengthened with 150 million yen in reparations? Our defense budget this year is exactly 420 million rubles.

Even in the original history when we struggled with budget cuts due to falling food prices, we easily exceeded 300 million rubles in defense spending.

"But isn't it strange? I believe we all promised just a few years ago to keep Korea neutral, yet you say I'm invading Korea?"

"Easily handing over Korea's interests to other countries and acting as proxy for Korea's diplomacy - if that's not invasion, what is it?"

"Isn't that what you all did too?"

Was it just us? You did it, Britain did it, America did it, France, Germany, even Qing on its deathbed did it.

To use that as justification... it feels like nothing but nitpicking.

Regardless, Ito continued speaking, seemingly intent on pushing forward with claims unsupported by logic.

"The Japanese Empire has long conducted diplomacy with Korea and knows Korea well. Only we can help Korea and prevent war from recurring due to their misguided diplomacy."

The misguided diplomacy war here would be the war with Qing. After all, the justification and conclusion was that Korea caused war by calling both countries simultaneously.

Actually, while this works when talking about Korea, similarly we'd have nothing to say if Ito brought up Manchuria.

Manchuria, couldn't resist it. But considering the Trans-Siberian Railway's completion, not taking it would make me unworthy of being Tsar.

"Since our views on Korea differ so much, what's the use in talking more? So, have you thought about my proposal?"

"You mean the proposal to establish a neutral zone based on 38 degrees north latitude?"