Reincarnated as Nikolai II

That ignorant man had fought for four years in dangerous places and returned. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Only for his family.

Only for his country.

Though patriotism might have no end, Man-sik thought he had already done enough for his country.

Then, did the country properly fulfill its duty to his family while he was away?

"...First, my family."

From now on, Man-sik would verify this.

"No money at home? We don’t even have a plot of land and carried everything to the station!"

"How much could the national tax have been! The agency clearly said they sent money to our hometown!"

"Why, why has nothing changed when I came back after risking my life? If it’s like this, what did I fight for..."

And these actions weren’t just Kim Man-sik’s movements alone.

==

Something was strange.

The Korean land they finally returned to by train, where even nightmares had transformed into memories.

At first, the excitement built up on the train burst into uncontrollable joy, making even General Lee Dong-hwi, who had become a general, shed tears.

When he rode on horseback through Hanseong being treated as a hero, he felt like he owned the world, and when he was awarded medals, he truly felt like a hero from a novel.

However, Major General Lee Dong-hwi’s joy didn’t last long.

"Excuse me? The Russian funds that came into the Ministry of Finance were... used for what?"

"Various things. Completing the royal tombs, making a golden seal identical to the royal seal, used here and there."

"But no matter what, the money we received must have been considerable, how could it all be spent?"

"Hey, don’t say such things anywhere! We’re still in mourning!"

"...Sir, it’s been almost five months since His Majesty passed away, are we still in mourning?"

Lee Dong-hwi, though also a soldier loyal to the royal family and the state, could tell something was seriously wrong.

Russia said they consistently sent money to Korea.

When he actually returned and checked, the Russian side had more than adequately paid not only participation allowances but various other compensations to Korea multiple times.

Nevertheless, bad news was coming from soldiers and officers scattered across the eight provinces.

"I, I need to meet with the ministers and department heads."

"The Ministry of Finance has already determined and used all the allocations. You don’t need to worry!"

"No, how can I not be concerned about money our boys earned fighting to death!"

"Hey! Finance is not your concern! Just prepare to become the Imperial Guard Commander!"

Imperial Guard Commander... the highest and most glorious position excluding provincial garrisons.

However, Lee Dong-hwi found it difficult to accept that position.

Because at this very moment, the cries of those who fought under him were growing louder and louder.

Those who were evacuated due to injuries became disabled and invalid without proper treatment.

He heard that families who lost their husbands were struggling in poverty and many households were breaking apart.

The war was clearly over.

They had returned home.

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Yet the veterans had to face the pain of a new reality.

"We’re Imperial soldiers who even defeated Germany... surely we are..."

The people living in this Korean land might not know, but they survived thousands, hundreds of thousands of artillery shells.

They charged through machine gun fire into enemy lines, and their bodies became more accustomed to removing mines and barbed wire than harvesting crops from the ground.

"...It must have been for the nation’s development. Yes, since the country is poor, they had no choice but to use the Russian funds carefully."

Even as he tried to attach reasons and comfort himself.

Clench

His fist already couldn’t unclench.

No, the very fact that the Emperor’s funeral was continuing for five months seemed like evidence of squandered finances.

Even Russia didn’t hold state funerals when Grand Dukes died in battle, and when the respected Prime Minister Witte died, they held a modest funeral.

This country seemed to be dragging many veterans to death as if the Emperor wanted to be buried with them.

Lee Dong-hwi immediately moved to find answers to these questions that seemed impossible not to resolve.

Knocking on the doors of the Ministry of Finance in charge of finances.

Meeting with parliamentarians who were said to be influential in the assembly.

No, right now he just wanted anyone, whether pro-Russian or pro-royal, to please give him answers.

What did they fight for?

Why must the result of risking their lives be so heartbreaking?

"Why, just why."

His subordinates, those low-ranking soldiers, didn’t ask for much.

They wanted their sacrifices to be acknowledged and remembered. No, actually they didn’t even ask for that much.

Just taking care of their families would have been enough.

Money for food and clothes, and if possible, a little extra savings. Really, just that much would have satisfied the veterans and made them praise the Emperor.

But if the state intercepted that money after sending tens of thousands to war...

"How is this any different from selling slaves?"

Lee Dong-hwi, who lived his whole life as a soldier, couldn’t even remember what he fought so hard to protect.

This was equivalent to the homeland disgracing tens of thousands of deployed troops who boarded trains for their country and families, and ignoring their hard work.

Tens of thousands. Adding their families makes hundreds of thousands. Adding their distant relatives, friends, hometown people...

’...Isn’t that the entire population?’

Now even Lee Dong-hwi couldn’t guess how far his thoughts would spread.

"The country has gone wrong. Don’t you think so?"

"...Minister of Foreign Affairs."

"I used to work as the minister of foreign affairs. Not anymore though."

"I have nothing to discuss with someone like you who knows nothing of patriotism. Leave."

"Well, since the general treats me so harshly, I should leave in fear. Though dead Lee Myeong-bok is extorting from living citizens, and if that’s not enough, now even the corrupt officials beside him are striking it rich using the king’s name, I’ll take my leave."

"...Wait."

Though before he would have driven him away just for looking like a seed of treason, for some reason Lee Dong-hwi stopped him.

As if waiting for just those words, the other man turned his head while keeping his hands behind his back and showed a slight smile.

"Do you want to know where all that blind money flowed? What this Korean land was like while you were dying all the way in Europe?"

"...I want to know."

"Well then, since it seems it will be a long night, let’s go inside and talk."

After the two went inside, the main gate was locked and even the latticed door of the guest room was firmly shut.

The man began to provide clear answers to the many questions Lee Dong-hwi had harbored over the past few days.

He was Yi Wan-yong, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs.