Reincarnated as Nikolai II

I’m not hoping that war crisis will disappear or Korea will become permanently neutral through our hands matching perfectly in this meeting.

How far has Ito’s reason been eroded, and how much has Japan’s imperialistic instinct strengthened?

Just knowing that would be good, or if difficult, just being able to start war when I want would be fine.

’Though I mean I’ll make Korea an island and give it to you, what good is another island to an island nation? They’ll obviously refuse.’

As expected, Ito shook his head.

"That would only blur the essence. Korea must remain whole and be enlightened for Asian affairs to be peaceful."

Ito, that cunning strategist who had always twisted and manipulated logic to suit his own purposes, while masterfully wrapping his ambitious vision of continental dominance in layers of sophisticated rhetoric and charm.

Nevertheless, I continued to relentlessly challenge and critique his positions, piercing through his carefully constructed facade like a steady stream of needles.

"39 degrees north. You can get all the major rice-producing granary regions and ports on three sides of the peninsula."

"What are you saying now? Your Majesty, I came here for the peace of all Asia-"

"39.5 degrees. Seven-tenths of Korean land. Pyongyang would be below that too. Of Korea’s eight provinces, you’d get six."

"Let me say again-"

"40 degrees. This is the last offer. It’s practically everything except the northern mountains. As long as you don’t station troops, you can try all that wonderful enlightening you’re so proud of, I’m curious too."

"..."

Ito now fixes me with an unwavering gaze, his silence speaking volumes as he refuses to offer even the slightest verbal response.

Watching him struggle to keep his dignified demeanor intact while clearly wrestling with bewilderment, I find myself unable to suppress my growing amusement at his predicament.

"Kuk, kuhup!"

"...What do you find so amusing, Your Majesty?"

"Ah, sorry. It’s hard to contain myself seeing you trying to suppress your excited feelings when you can’t even control your own country."

The wavering eyes and rising excitement with each additional concession.

It’s just too funny how he tries to clumsily bluff before me with ’the home country might have to resort to final measures?’ while he himself fears war.

It’s like desire and fear mix to blur the essence.

At the sharp criticism, Ito’s yellow face turns red as a radish.

To such an Ito, I reminded him once again of our reality.

"There won’t be any negotiation team that Minister Giers is preparing. This war might hurt a bit, but think of it as a preventive shot that needs to be taken."

"Your Majesty! War isn’t something to be mentioned lightly!"

"Then can you return to Japan and announce to your subjects ’The weak Japanese Empire lacks the ability to wage war against the great Russian Empire!’?"

"..."

"You can’t, right? So just go and tell your subjects what they want to hear. That’s a politician’s role. Conversely, I... am not a politician, so I’ll do as I please."

I had sometimes wondered if Ito’s reason might peak because of me and prevent the Russo-Japanese War from happening.

This was the concern I had worried about most seriously.

The altered history if the Russo-Japanese War didn’t happen was difficult to imagine, and it would mean all the preparations invested in the Far East would be thrown in the trash.

However, through today’s meeting with Ito, I could be certain once again.

This is an unavoidable war. Also, Ito’s reason can never break Japan’s will for war.

"...Additional negotiations regarding Korea will be conveyed through the Foreign Ministry."

"Never mind. Just send the declaration of war on time."

I sent off Ito, who left trembling even his beard with humiliation, with a bright smile.

And as he left, Minister Giers entered as if he had been waiting.

"Did you achieve what you wanted through the dialogue?"

"I did, but the other party thinks they only received insult."

"How will you handle negotiations? Either I or Prime Minister Witte must depart for these negotiations."

"No need for that."

Witte has been busier than ever since becoming Prime Minister, and Minister Giers isn’t idle enough to be dispatched for months for meaningless negotiations.

"Forget negotiations. Minister Giers, publicize the Manchuria-Korea exchange negotiation proposal that the Japanese Empire suggested."

"Will that be enough?"

"No. Use this as justification to tell the Korean king. Tell him to sweep away all Japanese in the peninsula."

This much provocation should make Ito send the declaration of war on time.

Otherwise, how do we know they won’t just keep sharpening their blades for 5 or 10 years until their preparations are perfect?

"...I’m not sure how much Korea will comply, but understood."

"Threaten them strongly. It’s fine even if Korea just makes a show of it."

After all, looking closely at that archipelago’s desire for continental expansion, it doesn’t seem much different from Britain 100 years ago.

Yes, that fear of isolation from the continent that Napoleon engraved in those pirates’ frontal lobes.

"Why are all island nations exactly the same?"

A decision that the Ito who met me during my Crown Prince days 10 years ago would never have made.

However, Ito and Japan truly changed in the 10 years that can change even mountains and rivers.

[Prime Minister Ito returned home and stated that Russia had no will to negotiate and didn’t even treat the Imperial Nation as a dialogue partner. This has further inflamed public opinion for war.

-Minister Speyer, Tokyo-]

[April 14, detecting movements of the Manchurian army, the Korean king moved to dismiss Japanese personnel in the cabinet. However, the crucial revocation of Japanese interests is expected to be difficult.

-Minister Karl Weber, Hanseong-]

Finally in June, Japan began increasing their domestic bond issuance to an all-time high.

And we...

"Colonel Hertsel Yankelevich Tsam! Ordered to transfer to a unit under the Amur Governor-General’s Office!"

"Good, welcome!"

As soon as we heard about the bonds, we sent the Jewish regiment first.