Since a government had been established in Japan, had there ever been a time when so many conflicting opinions existed?
The Emperor stood as the symbol, the Shogun as the practical ruler.
For a long time, this structure had remained fixed, yet now the political voices of the Empire of Japan refused to unify.
Ōkubo Toshimichi had initially believed that with the backing of the British Empire, he could manage the situation.
But reality proved otherwise.
There was a limit to how much he could suppress the endless dissent rising from the provinces.
If they had openly revolted, he could have crushed them outright.
Instead, they continued to chatter endlessly, dividing public opinion, making matters far more difficult.
Even within the upper and lower houses, fatigue over this situation was spreading.
"At this rate, will reform not collapse?"
"Do we truly need further reform? Perhaps we should simply focus on economic growth as we are."
"I hear Joseon faces similar circumstances. We are not unusual."
"We should aim to surpass them, not compare ourselves."
"If we rush, we will only falter. We must slow down."
"How long will we keep slowing down? Shall we crawl instead?"
"This constant arguing is why nothing is resolved."
The new political system had not been in place for long.
Though there was still some leeway, no one knew how long that would last.
For social unity and for the repayment of national debt, even Ōkubo had begun to accept that the Seikanron was gaining ground.
Yet knowing something is inevitable does not make it easy to accept.
Ōkubo's concern was not merely war itself.
It was the promise he had made to His Majesty King Killian.
To prevent the rise of the military.
No one wages war intending to lose.
If war with Qing began, victory would be pursued at any cost, and that would inevitably strengthen the military.
This was what troubled him most.
At that moment, the British ambassador arrived demanding clarification.
"So… the Seikanron is simply that. Whenever society is divided, proposals arise to redirect dissatisfaction outward. Some are calling for war with Qing. It is nothing more than that. Idle talk."
"Idle talk? There are rumors of an alliance with Joseon."
"Nothing has been decided. We merely inquired about their position."
Qing was already engaged in unequal trade with Britain, France, and Prussia.
War could disrupt that balance.
Ōkubo forced a smile.
"There is no need for concern. It is in our nature to say we will act and then not act."
The ambassador did not look reassured.
"The British Empire holds territories near Qing, including Hong Kong and Shanghai. These are critical to our Asian economy. There must be no disruption."
"Of course. I understand that well."
Those advocating Seikanron did not intend to provoke Britain.
But could war truly leave the economy unaffected?
"I assure you, as long as I remain, nothing of the sort will happen. Please convey to His Majesty King Killian that I will honor the promise I made."
"…Very well. And what of Joseon's response?"
"They said they would consider it positively. We do not yet know why."
"A most interesting reply."
Ōkubo ultimately shifted responsibility onto Joseon.
Surely they would not actually agree to war.
It must be political maneuvering.
Yet the ambassador's gaze grew colder.
Unexpected events always arise from unexpected places.
When Joseon first heard Japan's proposal to attack Qing, it was dismissed as nonsense.
At least, Kim Jwa-geun had thought so.
But Joseon's situation was not so different from Japan's.
Though more stable, its national capacity was smaller.
To force rapid development required heavy borrowing and deeper reform.
Thanks to His Majesty King Killian's earlier intervention, conservative factions had been weakened, allowing reform to proceed.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible.
Even so, the country remained unstable.
Voices clashed everywhere.
Opposition to reform.
Calls for elections like Britain.
Even absurd proposals for a union with the British Empire.
Chaos spread.
A unifying force was needed.
Kim Jwa-geun had used Killian for this purpose.
The shock of Western civilization had been immense.
Even greater than in Japan.
Joseon had long believed itself superior under the Sinocentric order.
Now that illusion was shattered.
European power.
Colonial expansion.
Technological advancement.
All revealed a harsh truth.
The old order held no value.
Confucianism itself was being questioned.
To maintain unity, Kim Jwa-geun had promoted Killian.
"A man of Joseon blood has risen to the highest position in the British Empire. This proves our superiority."
"And now he is King of Canada."
It was nationalism.
A powerful tool.
But it created problems.
Kim Jwa-geun had intended to weaken royal authority and strengthen the cabinet.
Instead, royal sentiment surged.
Even Prince Heungseon encouraged it.
"Should we not reject Japan's proposal?"
"Is it truly nonsense?"
Anti-Qing sentiment had grown strong.
Opposing it risked backlash.
Qing was seen as weak.
Joseon saw itself rising.
"If we join Japan, perhaps we can secure Manchuria."
Kim Jwa-geun nearly cursed.
Manchuria?
They could not even manage Sakhalin properly.
This was political maneuvering.
An attempt to force him into opposition.
But Kim Jwa-geun understood the trap.
He would not fall for it.
"If that is Your Majesty's will, I will consider it positively."
The king froze in shock.
Kim Jwa-geun bowed, hiding a smile.
There would be no war.
Japan would hesitate.
Joseon would delay.
The matter would fade.
Yet, Across the sea, Japan thought the same.
Surely they would not agree.
Joseon and Japan.
Both reached the same conclusion.
And when two hands meet.
They make a sound.
***
One common mistake made by intelligent people is assuming that others are just as intelligent as they are.
Those who are confident in their own abilities are especially prone to this trap.
Kim Jwa-geun sought to stabilize Joseon's unstable political situation by using Japan.
Ōkubo Toshimichi sought to eliminate Japan's internal political instability by using Joseon.
Since both held the same line of thinking, the situation could only develop in an unintended direction.
To make matters worse, in both countries, the proposal to attack Qing was gaining significant support.
In many ways, this was the result of their own actions.
In Joseon, efforts to emphasize the superiority of the Korean people in order to push modernization had backfired, leading to a rejection of the long-standing tributary mindset.
Japan was no different. By emphasizing the supposed excellence of the Yamato people through Killian, they had fostered an inflated sense of superiority as the leading power in Asia.
At the same time, those who were inevitably left behind began to seek an outlet for national power abroad, leading both commoners and elites to favor war.
Even intellectuals argued that expansion onto the continent was necessary for the nation's future.
Joseon looked toward Manchuria. Japan looked toward the continent.
Few among the educated could resist such temptation.
As a result, both sides, while internally thinking that the situation would spiral out of control and that the other side should stop, continued to move forward, and the situation escalated rapidly.
"Your Majesty, Japan has expressed its gratitude for Joseon's positive response and has proposed forming a joint council to proceed."
"…Proceed with it."
So they truly intended to invade Qing.
It had not been mere bluffing.
"Prime Minister, Joseon has agreed to form the council."
"I told you, Ōkubo. Joseon is focused on Manchuria. If we strike together, Qing will not be able to resist."
Ōkubo let out a hollow sigh.
So Joseon had truly been prepared to act.
If Joseon attacked Manchuria while Japan struck along the coast, Qing might indeed collapse.
At this point, a new thought emerged.
If they were truly serious, perhaps it was feasible.
Britain had warned against disrupting European trade, but if Qing were weakened, Europe might benefit even more.
In that sense, Japan and Joseon would be acting on behalf of Europe.
As domestic opinion increasingly leaned toward war, Ōkubo made his decision.
"If we can restrain the military, perhaps one war is unavoidable."
"Saigō Takamori, go as a special envoy to Joseon. If they confirm, we proceed. If they refuse, we withdraw."
"I will secure their agreement, even at the cost of my life."
In truth, Ōkubo hoped the plan would collapse.
If he had known Joseon was this unstable, he would have chosen another excuse.
But it was too late.
Each side thought the other had gone mad, yet both stepped forward into the same trap.
To be honest, I had expected Japan to act recklessly to some degree.
Even though I had warned Ōkubo to restrain the military, I knew well how unstable the Japanese military could become.
From observing history, I had learned one thing.
To alter the course of history as an individual required extraordinary ability.
Ōkubo might not possess that level of control.
He had risen too quickly and lacked a firm foundation.
Relying on my name could only go so far.
Eventually, events would slip beyond his control.
That much I had anticipated.
What I had not expected was Joseon.
Unlike other countries, Joseon offered no historical precedent to predict from.
A successfully modernizing Joseon, with Heungseon Daewongun as king and Kim Jwa-geun holding real power, was impossible to predict.
Even though Kim Jwa-geun had been influential in the original timeline, the current situation was entirely different.
With reformists trained in London filling key positions, the future direction of Joseon was uncertain.
I had left them alone for that reason.
I had not expected them to align with Japan and seriously consider attacking Manchuria.
Still, perhaps there was more beneath the surface.
Regardless, events had already been set in motion.
I sent a probe, and the response came immediately.
A Japanese envoy crossed the Pacific in haste and bowed deeply before me.
"Your Majesty, I have come at once upon your summons."
"You could have sent a telegram."
"It would be improper."
He introduced himself as Tōjō Hidetoshi.
The name felt oddly familiar.
Perhaps coincidence.
"Tell me why you are here."
I glanced at the report and smiled faintly.
"So you intend to claim that Joseon forced your hand?"
"No, Your Majesty. That is not our intent."
"It was Japan that proposed this plan first. Now you say Joseon desires war. That sounds like evasion."
"We merely consulted them. A joint council has been agreed upon."
That was effectively confirmation.
They were serious.
Japan's nature had not changed.
Strength would always drive it toward the continent.
Joseon, too, could not resist the lure of reclaiming Manchuria.
The two were more alike than they realized.
War was becoming inevitable.
Seeing me silent, Tōjō continued carefully.
"We do not seek war without cause. However, if circumstances demand it, we must be prepared."
"And what circumstances would justify it?"
"Qing vessels are conducting illegal fishing in our waters."
"I see."
Using illegal fishing as justification for war.
It sounded absurd, yet not impossible.
"So what did your Prime Minister wish to confirm?"
"…If we secure territory on the continent, would it be recognized?"
That was the real question.
Not war, but territorial gain.
Joseon would take Manchuria.
Japan would seek its own foothold.
But territorial annexation was another matter entirely.
European powers would not accept it easily.
"And you chose to cross the Pacific to ask me this?"
Tōjō froze.
So that was the intention.
I studied him briefly before speaking again.
"Tell me, do you have any interest in militarism?"
"No, Your Majesty. Neither I nor the Prime Minister hold such views."
"Good."
He denied it immediately.
Still, once expansion began, it would not end easily.
If both nations moved forward, the consequences for Asia would be enormous.
I set aside my cup.
It was time to consider how to use this.
If managed correctly, this situation could serve my broader strategy in the Pacific.
***
Hanseong, the capital of Joseon.
Kim Jwa-geun found himself seriously questioning the sanity of the man sitting before him.
Saigō Takamori.
A close associate of Ōkubo Toshimichi, who effectively led Japan's government, yet politically opposed to him.
He had already heard that the atmosphere within Japan had grown unstable.
Part of him had hoped it would escalate into civil war, but he had not expected it to unfold in this way.
Looking back at history, Japan had always behaved like this.
The Imjin War itself had been the result of Japan attempting to resolve its internal instability by invading Joseon.
This time, the target had simply changed to Qing.
In that sense, Kim Jwa-geun realized he had misjudged them.
He had assumed they were rational actors, but they had been serious from the beginning.
International politics was driven not by reason, but by madness and greed.
"Then you, Saigō Takamori, will serve as Japan's representative for this council?"
"Yes. I will handle all communications going forward."
"…Has it truly been decided? You intend to proceed?"
"With Joseon firmly supporting us, we have nothing to fear."
Kim Jwa-geun resisted the urge to scoff.
Joseon did not view Japan favorably.
This was not merely due to the invasions of the past.
The two nations were effectively rivals, each interfering in the other's affairs.
Japan likely felt the same.
In that sense, both nations shared similar strengths and flaws.
Kim Jwa-geun instinctively understood that Japan was also using Joseon as justification for war.
"Saigō, war is not something that can simply be declared and carried out immediately. It requires preparation. Are you ready?"
"Preparation is sufficient. What matters more than time is public support. There are too many in Japan who wish for war. It is difficult to restrain them. Even a naval landing will not be an issue."
Japan had recent experience organizing and deploying large forces.
Joseon was not so different.
Rumors of reclaiming Manchuria had driven the entire nation into a frenzy.
Even intellectuals spoke of restoring the lands of Goguryeo and ancient Joseon.
Saigō was clearly aware of this.
"The will of the people is the will of heaven. If both nations desire the continent, then it must be heaven's will."
Kim Jwa-geun forced a response.
"…Is that so?"
Saigō pointed to a Korean newspaper.
"I had it translated. Quite an interesting article."
Kim did not need to read it to know its contents.
Recent editorials all followed the same tone.
< Where does legitimacy over Manchuria lie? Qing is not its rightful owner. >
The argument was clear.
This was not invasion, but restoration.
With such justification, public opinion had decisively shifted.
Opposition now meant being branded a traitor.
"With such determination, we are reassured."
"…Very well. As agreed, once Japan declares war, Joseon will join as an ally."
"Of course. We will open the war. Joseon will follow."
Kim Jwa-geun felt a moment of unease.
Why had Japan not insisted that Joseon declare war first?
A naval campaign would be more difficult than a land invasion.
Yet Japan was willing to act first.
What confidence did they have?
Still, there was no disadvantage for Joseon.
Kim Jwa-geun reviewed the agreement.
If one side entered war, the other would join automatically.
If Japan fought Qing, Joseon would advance north.
Considering Qing's condition, defeat seemed unlikely.
The only concern was European intervention.
But Japan seemed confident.
Kim Jwa-geun accepted it.
Preparations moved quickly.
Troops gathered in the north.
"Morale?"
"Very high."
"Will Qing not notice?"
"Surprisingly, they have not."
"They truly are incompetent."
Even those previously cautious now supported war.
Objectively, Joseon was not ready.
But nations did not act on reason alone.
"We wait for Japan's declaration."
"Understood."
Everything moved swiftly.
For the first time in Joseon's history, the nation prepared to advance onto the continent.
Heungseon Daewongun spoke with satisfaction.
"To achieve what none before has accomplished, this is a blessing upon the royal house."
Kim Jwa-geun lowered his head, hiding a bitter smile.
The struggle for credit had already begun.
If successful, it would be a historic achievement.
Whether it strengthened the throne or the cabinet would depend on the outcome.
Both sides pushed their claims subtly.
Then Kim Jwa-geun recalled something and changed the subject.
"Has the British embassy contacted us?"
"No. I was about to ask you the same."
"Japan sent envoys to explain. We have received nothing."
"Perhaps they do not care."
Neither could determine whether that was good or bad.
"For now, we proceed. If issues arise, we place responsibility on Japan."
"Agreed. Have we prepared the declaration?"
"Yes."
"Then we wait."
Reports indicated tensions between Japan and Qing were rising.
The issue was fishing rights around disputed islands.
Japan claimed illegal fishing.
Qing dismissed it.
The situation was clearly being escalated toward war.
Kim Jwa-geun estimated war might begin the following year.
He was wrong.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
"Your Majesty, urgent news."
"What is it?"
"War has broken out. Japan has attacked Qing."
"What?"
"When was the declaration issued?"
"There was none. They launched a surprise attack."
Silence fell.
Kim Jwa-geun clenched his head.
Japan had done it again.
No declaration.
A sudden strike.
"What do we do now?"
The plan had been clear.
But now?
Should Joseon declare war?
Should they advance?
"What are those fools thinking?"
Even before the king, he could not restrain himself.
No one rebuked him.
Heungseon Daewongun simply sighed.
Moments ago, they had spoken of great achievements.
Now everything had changed.
Silence filled the room.
No one spoke.