Chapter 134 A Conflict in Choson

The strange death of one of the secret emissaries sent by Emperor Gojong of the Choson Empire has spread like wildfire in the Kingdom of Netherlands. Newspapers and television stations are covering the incident, attracting attention not only from the Kingdom of Netherlands but around the world.

According to the reports, Yi Jun’s colleague, Sangsul, shouted for help from his room and resulting in the hotel staff telephoning the police and the hospital. The people who responded to the call were too late, as Yi Jun had already been already dead before he was found.

With white foam coming out of his mouth, the doctor with the police deduced that the cause of death was poisoning.

The only questions are how and why.

They came up with two theories.

Due to the rejection by the international community of not letting them participate in the Hague convention earlier that day, Yi Jun chose to take his own life than face the shame of failure.

But this theory has large holes. The biggest is where are the rest of the poison and its container that should be found with his body and at least a suicide note. The other theory was that he was somehow killed in the room.

For now, it’s still under investigation as detectives combed the hotel room for more clues and figured out what poison was used and how it was administered.

His two colleagues, Yi Wi-jong and Sangsul were grieving their compatriot’s death, gaining support from the public.

This incident received attention from the public who learned that Yi Jun is part of the three emissaries from the Choson Empire who have something to voice out in the international community. The international community was pressured. And thus, Yi Wi-jong was able to present a speech to 150 journalists at The Hague concerning Yamato’s invasions of Choson and its voided legality.

This incident reached the Empire of Choson and the Yamato Empire. The latter was furious after learning that Emperor Gojong would send secret emissaries to The Hague to lodge a diplomatic protest.

***

8,603 kilometers away from The Hague is the capital city of the Empire of Choson, Hanseong.

In this place, the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace stood, where the royal family of the Empire of Choson resides.

In the throne room of the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, King Gojong, dressed in a twelve-emblem myeonbok, was sitting on his throne, his face looking tired as usual as if he had never slept before. Before he was his ministers wearing western outfits standing neatly in a row facing Choson’s palace ministers garbed in a traditional Dallryung robe.

Pak Chesoon was the current prime minister of the Empire of Choson who seemingly had a grim expression written over his face.

He began the emergency briefing.

“Your Majesty. People say that we were forced to sign the Choson-Yamato Treaty of 1922. However, we are still an independent nation called the Great Choson Empire. The country is safe, and your dignity and authority remain intact. We are simply letting our neighboring country take care of a diplomatic matter for the time being.”

Pak Chesoon paused as he took a moment to breathe after ranting out about the poor decision of the Emperor that would now cause discord between the Empire of Choson and the Yamato Empire.

“But how could you dispatch confidential emissaries to the Hague? Because of that, Resident General Ito is furious at the moment,” Wan-Yong finished.

“How could we betray the Yamato Empire like that after everything they’ve done for us?” Minister of Farming, Song Byeong-Jun began.

“The Yamato Empire will not let it slide. Your Majesty, if you are concerned for the safety of this country. You should…Take your own life. To save your people from this crisis. There is simply no other way for the Yamato Empire to forgive you of your insolence.”

Upon hearing the words of his Prime Minister and Song Byeong-jun, King Gojong was furious inwardly. His hands were shaking from the preposterousness of what the man just said. He did not expect such a thing from the Prime Minister of the Empire of Choson.

“You…Are you all hearing yourself right now? You are asking me…to take my life?!” Gojong trembled in his words, he couldn’t believe for the first time that he’ll speak those painful words out of his mouth.

“Yamato’s army is far more powerful and advanced than ours,” The Minister of Defense, Yi Geun-taek pointed out. “So, it’s not like we can go into war with them. You betrayed them by sending confidential emissaries, which utterly enraged them!” his voice cracked like a whip. “Don’t you think you are the one putting our country in jeopardy?”

Song Byeong-Jun sighed after hearing his colleague venting. “If you can’t take your own life. There are actually two choices you can take,” he glared at Gojong, which is said to be the most disrespectful etiquette when it comes to speaking with the Emperor. “You either visit Tokyo in person and apologize to the Emperor of the Yamato Empire. If not that, capitulate to Hasegawa Yoshimichi, the commander of Choson Residence Yamato Army.”

“Your Majesty, if you truly care for the people, I’d suggest that you visit the Emperor of Yamato Empire and beg for forgiveness. To show sincerity, you must take full responsibility by passing the throne to the crown prince.” Pak Chesoon said coldly.

“HOW DARE YOU!” His voice cracked out like a wave, enough to make the throne hall shake. “Must you humiliate me like this? Are your loyalty is on the Emperor of Yamato Empire now?”

“Well, things have changed,” Pak Chesoon stepped forward and turned to face Gojong. Then shockingly, he pulled out a Mauser C96 and aimed at the Emperor.

This sudden action stunned Gojong, shocked to the very core. He was betrayed by his ministers. Not only by them but also by the entire imperial court.

No one was siding with him, as if they had already made the decision to dethrone him.

Hurried footsteps can be heard outside the hall. Ten Yamato soldiers entered the hall with their muddy shoes on, desecrating the floor of the Imperial palace. Their weapons were trained on him.

So, this was it? His efforts of making the Empire of Choson independent, and free of foreign control were over. His aides and ministers all turned against him, serving a new Emperor.

He reached for his glasses with his trembling hand. He could feel tears well up in his eyes as he stared at the gun pointed at him. There is no choice but to abdicate.

…

Two days later, Sergei Grigorivich was recalled back to the St. Petersburg Winter Palace. He was in Alexander’s office where he found him watching the television about today’s news.

“So, Sergei…care to explain what just happened in the Empire of Choson?” Alexander began, his feet resting on the table.

“Your Majesty, the Yamato Empire, and The Empire of Choson have signed yet another treaty, making Choson a puppet state of the Yamato Empire. King Gojong abdicated the throne to the crown prince. The whole country’s mourning and a battle broke out in the capital as the Choson Army is battling with Yamato’s who planned to disband them.”

“So, it’s a shitshow huh?” Alexander muttered. “Where are the two emissaries that you brought?”

“They are here, Your Majesty.”

Sangsul and Yi Wi-jong and Sangsul entered Alexander’s office and bowed in front of him with great reverence despite him sitting at his desk in a rude posture.

“So, you two…fancy to take your country back from the invaders?” Alexander offered with a cunning smile creeping across his lips.

***

The secret emissaries from Choson checking out of the Hotel De Jong and boarding the private plane with Sergei for Ruthenia have not escaped the notice of Yamato’s spies sent to watch and even deal with the Chosonese duo.

Seeing the plane take off for Ruthenia, the ninjas snuck back to the Yamato representatives to report on the emissaries’ next destination.

Deducing that the emissaries from Choson are going to possibly seek Ruthenia’s aid in some way. The Yamatos made a call to their homeland to inform the Yamato’s government of the secret Chosonese emissaries’ mission to interfere with Yamato’s takeover of the Empire of Choson by bringing in foreign help.

The Tsar of Ruthenia will soon be getting a missive from the local Yamato embassy demanding him to hand over a pair of “traitorous rebels” back to Choson under “orders” of the Crown Prince of the Choson Empire.