Reincarnated as Nikolai II

The Imperial Household’s claims weren’t entirely wrong - the railways and roads were better maintained than before, making their convergence speed increasingly faster.

The confrontation between garrison troops and veterans versus the Imperial Guard.

No, even calling it a confrontation was meaningless - while the Imperial Guard’s uniforms hadn’t changed much from what the former Special Army wore.

The veterans all wore brown uniforms commonly seen in Europe during the Great War while displaying an ominous presence.

As even the Korean Empire’s capital, Hanyang, became paralyzed...

"Since the Empire has declared neutrality, we will not intervene in the Korean Empire’s situation whatsoever."

The Russian Minister to Korea, Vasily Krupensky, declared non-intervention while simultaneously revealing the payment details.

Effectively, even the final bastion that had once provided refuge during the Russian legation refuge turned its back on the Korean imperial family.

"Fuck, attack!"

"Start the offensive, you bastards!"

"We won’t stop! We came from a place where stopping meant death!"

The battle wasn’t long.

The veterans pushing in from the city outskirts occupied up to the Yukuijeon market street in just one day and surrounded all five palaces above it.

Then they shouted again.

"Money, give us our money, you bastards!"

"Fuck, now this won’t do! Give it back with interest!"

At their very front was a general who returned victorious over the German Empire.

"General, we’ve captured all the Imperial Guard bastards! Almost no casualties, sent the wounded to doctors right away, not evacuation, and lastly, those joining us from across the country are gradually increasing!"

"Tell them any unauthorized action means immediate execution. We’re not traitors but regular army. We can’t forget that."

Lee Dong-hwi was there.

==

Did they overthrow the country, defeat the government forces, and gain complete military authority?

"We are also regular army."

Did they occupy the capital, capture key figures, and not lose public support?

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"We are the people, you know? My family, my subordinates, my comrades! We are those people!"

Finally, did the revolution succeed?

"We’re not traitors but regular army! Absolutely not a revolution!"

If France or Britain, who knew a thing or two about revolutions, saw this, they might have nodded and said, "Hmm, he’s got all the perfect conditions for a successful dynastic revolution dictatorship!"

Meanwhile, fellow Koreans couldn’t help but project the Return from Wihwado on the rebel army and Yi Seong-gye on Major General Lee Dong-hwi.

The times were chaotic, foreign invasion was rampant, and one with military power overthrew everything.

’Huh?’

’This is similar to how the Joseon dynasty started?’

’A... decision to save the country?’

However, even amid this, there were pro-royal faction members who opposed.

"This is a Military Revolt! The generals are trying to cut brushes with swords!"

"Scholars, what are you doing? Rise up and protect His Majesty!"

Of course, it was quite difficult for such voices to escape Hanyang and gain support in the provinces. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Because Hanyang was already not just surrounded but occupied.

"You bastards, what are you saying? Did we tell you to empty the palace? Did you say the seeds of kings and ministers were different?"

"We’re not traitors but creditors, you see? Here we clearly have the paper where you declared you’d pay us when you dragged us away!"

Because these people truly had no rebellious intentions.

Yes. They were just a group that could be dispersed if given money.

Just that the amount was somewhat large, at a level absolutely impossible to cover with the Korean Empire’s finances.

And as it had always been since the late Joseon period, this country’s solution was simple.

"We, we request mediation!"

"...Your country is in a situation of being overthrown or not, and you’re requesting mediation? Aren’t you asking us to solve it? We just declared non-intervention recently."

"No! This is something even those traitors agreed to! They also agreed to Russian mediation!"

"...Hmm?"

It was bringing in foreign power.

’Silla also brought in Tang Dynasty, then achieved unification through excellent statecraft! Let’s first try to avoid the country’s destruction through Russian mediation!’

’Well, if Russia gives us a loan to pay us, that would be fine too.’

The Imperial Household’s choice also contained Yi Wan-yong’s intentions.

’Overthrowing the country stops here. Using this as a pretext, we can sweep away the conservative and pro-royal factions and create a country purely ruled by parliament!’

From the start, the Independence Party’s goal, including his, wasn’t abolishing monarchy but constitutional monarchy, so they acknowledged the need for mediation.

Major General Lee Dong-hwi fulfilled all the Independence Party’s demands.

Leading troops to occupy the capital and perfectly controlling them to prevent them from flying off elsewhere.

Now it was the Independence Party’s turn.

And Yi Wan-yong, like the Imperial Household, argued that only Russian intervention could resolve this situation.

However, there was something that he, no, nobody expected.

"The Tsar personally said it. No country can intervene in the Korean Empire’s internal affairs. By international law, we can mediate disputes between nations but cannot mediate internal conflicts."

That Nicholas had no energy to care about the affairs of this small peninsula.

More precisely, he felt absolutely no need to do so.

After all, whoever took power was pro-Russian...

"I repeat, our country will not take anyone’s side. That would be interference in internal affairs."

Was there any reason for Russia to move? When it was obvious they would only earn someone’s resentment the moment they needlessly intervened.

An answer that no one in this country, raised watching the imperialistic moves of numerous foreign powers who had been desperate to intervene in Korea, had expected at all.

"...Attack again?"

"No, don’t come! Don’t come!"

"Still, looking at that splendid palace... wouldn’t we find something if we searched?"

"Fuck, I said don’t come!"

Just when they thought it was finally wrapping up, they had to start fighting again.

Lee Dong-hwi ran to Yi Wan-yong right after hearing the Russian legation’s response and asked.

"What happens now?"

"..."

Yi Wan-yong couldn’t answer right away.

Because he hadn’t considered what would happen after the sales pitch failed.