Reincarnated as Nikolai II

So Roman as Amur Governor-General had to focus first on Korea’s military.

’If Korean ports and capital hadn’t fallen so easily, would we have needed to build fortresses at the Yalu River and Port Arthur?’

Of course not. The enemy would have had headaches just figuring out how to handle amphibious operations.

So naturally the stronger Korea’s military, the more war deterrence emerges in this Far East.

Then strengthened Korea trusts its military and breaks protector-protectorate relations?

Roman didn’t think Korea would be so unable to discern reason.

That would mean immediate annihilation by the Far Eastern Army so it couldn’t happen.

"Seeing the troops dispatched in the last war, it’s entirely possible. The military can be built up together going forward, but most important is."

"What is it?"

"Create a State Duma."

"...Pardon?"

Yi Wan-yong was momentarily flustered and unconsciously questioned strangely.

"I’ve studied Korea sufficiently too. Doesn’t this country already have more zemstvos than our entire empire combined? But sadly I hear the zemstvos all act separately. So I strongly recommend organizing a State Duma to lead these zemstvos."

"..."

Roman Governor who massacred hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops comes to Pyongyang, promises not to establish Residency-General or Government-General, then makes strange demands.

’This country... has zemstvos?’

Yi Wan-yong coming to Pyongyang as Foreign Minister was left speechless.

==

Before returning to Hanyang after talks with Governor Roman, Yi Wan-yong met with Independence Club members who had surveyed all the way to Manchuria.

Your adventure continues at empire

"Zemstvo? State Duma? What exactly are these?"

"Roughly nobles and peasants together govern provinces, so in our terms it’s like governing do..."

"Is it like American state governments then?"

"No, not that independent. Especially recently Russian Empire’s local governments all got smashed by reforms so should be seen as having no autonomy beyond administration."

Club President Seo Jae-pil, Foreign Minister Yi Wan-yong, intellectual Nam Gung-eok and others forming the Independence Club’s core. These called Jeongdong faction or Foreigner faction in public seriously discussed this country’s future.

First to speak was Yi Wan-yong who was hopeful about Russia’s ’strong request’.

"...Then isn’t the Russian government supporting constitutional monarchy?"

Yi Wan-yong who believed this rotten country could only be changed through reform with elites joining forces together thought this might be a chance to escape this insufferable absolute monarchy.

Though parliament would naturally be full of pro-Russians if established, wouldn’t some check on the incompetent king become possible?

But Seo Jae-pil was skeptical.

"Would they really care about Korea that much? Though they may want to transplant their politics somewhat, they won’t be very active."

If so they wouldn’t have so loosely told us to establish a State Duma.

No, they wouldn’t have even thought zemstvos existed.

Traditional local government offices like magistrates and district clerks completely disappeared with the abolition of the examination system 10 years ago, and now the Personnel Bureau under the State Council handles official appointments and promotions.

Local autonomy? Elections? This country had none of those.

The current Emperor who has now become like head of the pro-Russian faction.

The absolute monarchy showing no signs of collapse even after the war because of him.

And, the State Duma.

"Above all, isn’t Russia’s State Duma also nominal?"

"That must be because subjects shudder at the Duma’s incompetence and the Emperor is so excellent?"

At least there the Emperor handed over power once. Just the Dumas lacked ability to even hold onto that.

"A State Duma. Parliament will definitely emerge. Because Russia will make it so. But we must think how to prevent this parliament from becoming a puppet."

"Be careful of the Imperial Association bastards too. Like when they attacked our Independence Club under His Majesty’s instigation before, they’ll surely interfere with parliamentary candidates."

The Imperial Association operated as an unwavering force of loyalty, dedicating their every action and decision solely to advancing the Emperor’s interests. They positioned themselves as direct antagonists to the Independence Club, viewing any opposition to absolute imperial power as a threat that needed to be eliminated.

The members of the Independence Club, many of whom had spent time abroad studying in American universities or Japanese institutions, felt a deep sense of unease whenever they encountered these political strongmen. The thuggish tactics and blind devotion to imperial authority displayed by the Imperial Association represented everything these reform-minded intellectuals feared - the stubborn resistance to modernization and democratic ideals that could keep their nation trapped in the past. Their exposure to foreign systems of governance had shown them alternative possibilities, making the Association’s aggressive enforcement of traditional power structures all the more chilling.

’If only the Tsar would directly seize power instead.’

But how could an Emperor ruling a great empire in Europe care about detailed matters of such a small country.

Even if interested, there’s no reason to listen to ministers below rather than the existing ruler king.

This small peninsular country tossed by strong winds blowing from all directions for decades whether opening ports or invasion.

Qing and Japan.

Russia and Japan.

Twice its territory was caught up in wars between other countries and devastated.

If there’s any fortune, it’s that for now we just need to simply stand on Russia’s side without need for precarious tightrope walking or ambiguous neutral diplomacy.

So we must absolutely reform the country in this barely regained era of peace.

That alone is the way to prove the Korean Empire’s value to Russia and furthermore escape protectorate status.

However the current Emperor Yi Hyeong (Gojong).

Perhaps because he spent too long under Andong Kim clan’s tyranny and as his grandfather’s puppet even after ascending the throne.

His obsession with power grows stronger by the day.

That obsession was so strong he seemed to consider his prestige above national development.

"Russia... recognizes the current Emperor as legitimate monarch."

"The people also think of His Majesty as parent ruling over them."

Then who exactly supports the human rights and enlightenment the Independence Club has shouted about until now?

Awakened nobility, intellectual class, middle class, and extremely few slaves.

Only minorities from each level understand this country’s evils and strive for change.

But the majority of people, new overlord country, and Hanyang’s rulers don’t want change.

Paradoxically the Independence Club’s hope fades more now the war has ended.

Though it certainly shouldn’t be this way.

Though such acts absolutely must not be done.

Yi Wan-yong reached the point of thinking even of such extreme measures.

’Rather, I want to sell this country to Russia.’

Then winds of change would blow whether porridge or rice.