Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Then they might be satisfied just living peacefully on their island.

’No, no. Too optimistic thinking?’

Or who knows. They might appear again grinding their teeth after 30 years for a fate-betting rematch.

Whatever happens, it’s our role to grasp and control East Asian hegemony from now on.

For now at least.

"Whew, finally feels like we’re at the starting line."

I should probably be happy about preventing the empire’s collapse by winning the war.

== Explore more stories with empire

Currently during negotiations, the Japanese-Russian army front line was right above Pyongyang.

It’s questionable to even call it a front line - most troops had withdrawn and even some who fled weren’t strategically retreating but just running away to mountains or southern Korea saving only themselves.

Though battles ended, the Russian camp was still busy with over 40,000 dead and 80,000 wounded in the past 8 months, but within there was one group maintaining solemnity.

"Who are those suit guys? Civilians? Who let them in! Hey misters-"

"Just shut up."

Black suits. Black hats. And black handkerchiefs.

Though unsuited for this humid land, no one stopped them.

No, rather even high-ranking commanders stood among them in uniform.

Even those unaware of the circumstances began to realize seeing the one standing at the front of that group.

Colonel Hertsel Yankelevich Tsam.

Then those clothes must be Jewish attire.

"General. For allowing this... truly thank you."

"Don’t mention it. Sorry I couldn’t do more. Are those representatives of the Jewish communities?"

"They sent one representative each from villages and cities."

Traditional Jewish funeral.

Organizing a Chevra Kadisha (Holy Brotherhood) funeral committee, they sent people even to this Far Eastern land.

Originally Jewish funerals cannot be held without relatives, but with conditions preventing all families from coming, only some came.

Though Count Elston didn’t know much about their culture, he felt quite a bit fighting alongside them.

’Foolish bastards... from top brass to bottom ranks none even thought about returning alive.’

Four times they had to piece the regiment back together from whatever fragments remained. Every eight weeks brought another devastating engagement that shattered their ranks, leaving only haunting gaps where soldiers once stood. The casualty lists grew longer with each reconstitution, new names replacing the fallen.

Count Elston wrestled with his conscience over the Jewish regiment’s repeated decimation. He understood the brutal mathematics of warfare, but watching a single unit be destroyed and rebuilt so many times weighed heavily on him. Yet Colonel Hertsel was relentless, practically on his knees before his superiors, insisting his men return to the front lines after each devastating loss. There was something in his determination that made even the hardened commanders pause - a burning resolve that seemed to transcend mere military duty.

To give more Jews opportunities.

When Colonel Hertsel’s regiment took devastating hits, Jews waiting in the rear continuously filled those vacancies, and even while dying they thanked for the chance to fight instead of resentment.

"From dust you came, and to dust you shall return-"

Though given the somber name of a funeral, the devastating reality was that proper remains could not even be recovered for individual burials. The bodies of countless victims lay decomposing in the streets, and in this sea of death and suffering, there was no way to distinguish and separately honor the Jewish dead from others who had perished.

The members of the Chevra Kadisha, the sacred burial society, were left only with their profound grief and the solemn duty of erecting memorial stones. As they performed this task, their tears fell freely - tears not just for those they could not properly lay to rest according to tradition, but for the overwhelming magnitude of loss that defied their ancient and holy customs of caring for the dead.

Nevertheless Colonel Hertsel sat before them wailing.

Every time Count Elston saw that old man’s fluttering left sleeve, he felt inexplicable guilt.

’We’ve already won the war! Troops must withdraw immediately!’

’Then we! We will stay! We will hold position until the last while other units retreat!’

’Damn it, do as you please!’

And when Colonel Hertsel returned, he had somehow become even smaller than before.

’Y-your arm...’

’It’s fine. I can still fight!’

Colonel Hertsel who cut off his own arm and cauterized it with fire immediately stood on the battlefield again.

He knew there were no commanders to lead the Jewish regiment except himself.

If asked which unit took the most casualties in this war, it wasn’t the Siberian Corps, Far Eastern Army, or Port Arthur fortress forces.

The Jews. Those despised by all and frowned upon just for being seen saved numerous Russian soldiers.

All a mere major general like him could do was inform the world of this fact and submit detailed accounts of the colonel’s merits to superiors.

The Chevra Kadisha following the Jewish regiment’s footsteps one by one, erecting gravestones in areas where battles occurred.

None who saw this sight dared curse them as dirty Jews.

They weren’t the only ones doing such acts.

"What’s that A-frame carrier?"

"...Even if we can’t perform proper rites, we should at least bury remaining bones in sunny places. Otherwise how cold will their bones be this winter?"

"Don’t the dead not feel pain?"

"Enough. There are human duties in this world. Our Korean unit will handle it."

The few Koreans who enlisted in the Far Eastern Army and cavalry collecting and burying bones regardless of friend or foe.

While untimely cleanup continued here and there.

"The Japan-Korea Protocol was declared void due to Japanese coercion!"

"Destroy all Korean Facility Regulations!"

"The Korean Empire declared neutrality so is a victim of this war!"

With news of war’s end, Hanyang that had been quiet also began stirring.

As Japanese forces lost all will and did nothing, Gojong quickly reclaimed Hanseongbu and summoned the Korean Forward Detachment that had sided with Russia to the palace to commend them.

The Korean Forward Detachment was a unit centered on marksmen that fought in the Russo-Japanese War while receiving support even from Korean immigrants in Manchuria.

Essentially the only thing the Korean Empire did well in this war and Gojong’s last Russian coin purchase funds.

Now with Russia’s victory, their status and value rose immeasurably.

These people entered Hanyang.

"Find the Japanese soldier Yun Chi-sang! Find and tear him to death!"

"Report anyone wearing Japanese uniforms! We’ll kill them ourselves!"

"Huh? Lieutenant Colonel Hakushiro? You were supposed to be withdrawn, why are you still stationed in Hanyang? Get out before we kill you!"

Naturally it would be strange if blood didn’t flow.