As November approached, news came through the Imperial Communications Department that Father's health was critical.
'...Even if I can't attend his final moments, thinking of the funeral, I must move now.'
Even until bedridden, Father helped prevent my return from the Far East, saying it was 'the Tsar's command.'
However, when Father passes, I can no longer act as Crown Prince receiving imperial commands. Because then I must become Tsar.
Indeed, the worst case would be returning empty-handed after Father's death without accomplishing anything.
Naturally pressed for time, unlike the powers watching with folded arms to see how far things go, we boldly attempted contact with Qing.
"Today, they said?"
"Though they should come quickly since railway facilities are good... anything could happen."
As November begins, Dalian at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula is about to fall.
No matter how well they hold out, that huge peninsula looks set to fall into Japanese hands within the year.
Though belatedly gathering Qing forces spread across the country to send to Manchuria, though I'm not sure, this too is just a matter of time until they fall.
Such war situation is probably best known by those directly being hit rather than outsiders like me.
The loss and fear Qing currently feels must not have been small, as they immediately replied wanting to meet to my proposal sent to Beijing.
With blood splashing right below, the meeting took place in Harbin, much further north than Khabarovsk.
A giant height matching Father's.
And a familiar face I seem to have seen before.
"Must have taken five days to come, but arriving today means departing right after receiving the proposal..."
"With wolves charging up and tigers opening their mouths on the side, couldn't just sit still."
Never imagined Li Hongzhang himself would come leading his aged body.
'Must be shocking for mighty Qing to have all borders stripped in a month by barbarians they ignored.'
Through his old and shabby appearance, his sparkling eyes seem to show what he's thinking.
Probably thinking about using enemies against each other, enemies of enemies being friends, and such.
Whatever it takes, Li Hongzhang would kneel if he could get Russia involved to reclaim the peninsula taken by Japan.
However, I said I would help, not fight for them.
"As I said, I'm someone who might have to return to St. Petersburg even tomorrow, so I won't speak long. Let's stop the war."
"...We've proposed stopping several times already. They just wouldn't accept."
Well that's because you stubbornly insisted 'L-let's call it a draw?' after having arms and legs broken.
"Don't even look at Korea for a while."
"...But giving it to Japan would cause another war."
"That's for later. Let's focus on just one thing now. Getting back Qing's original territory."
He who has represented Qing dealing with powers for decades must know. That nothing is free in this world.
Nevertheless, in this era when everyone is obsessed with land to the point where territory could be called everything.
I know. Right now Li Hongzhang's head must be bursting with dopamine finding hope amid endless gloomy circumstances.
"Though you'll have to pay the price differently, I'll ensure not one step of the border changes, on my name Nikolai. Additionally, preventing Korea falling into Japanese hands."
"So... how exactly?"
"Well, if they have sense they won't fight our empire, and above all though Russia alone is difficult, it won't be hard if we bring in our ally France and neighbor Germany."
Not difficult to bring in Germany whose dissatisfaction peaks at Japan's Manchurian advance while owning Qingdao.
Similarly, France holds weekly mass praying for Russia to advance to Far East and create friction with Germany, so they should take our side here at least.
The old minister's loosened eyes were already half won over by the fact that no land need be given up when confirmed unable to defend the country anymore.
"...The price?"
"Well, in my heart I'd like to demand Manchurian land instead, but that would just prove we're no different from Japan..."
From the start there was just one thing to demand from him.
"How much gold is currently in Qing's treasury?"
Money. Our empire needs money, not land.
==
Though Britain alone does shadow boxing like some champion title match calling it the Great Game, Russian diplomacy in this era was somewhat successful.
The absolute diplomatic principle continued for the past 15 years. That is 'avoiding friction with the powers.'
Maintaining good trade relations with Germany and building alliance with France 2 years ago.
Quite an achievement considering France and Germany's diplomatic relations.
Western Europe calls Alexander III 'Peacemaker', so Russia in this era clearly didn't make enemies.
Those series of processes come together to shine in the Far East.
"...Heavens, the Crown Prince himself came, truly?"
"Ambassador, the Tsar sent Crown Prince to the Far East. Said to end the Far East war quickly. Japanese forces might rush in here as early as next month, no later than early next year. We must move one step faster."
Though actually sent after 3 years of persistence despite the Tsar's opposition, the Russian ambassador didn't mention this.
"If Russia takes the lead, what reason would Germany have to refuse?"
Germany, already quiet having no influence in Asia, immediately followed as Russia took the lead.
"Finally! Is Russia finally advancing into Manchuria!"
"...Though uncertain, Russia's southward advance is definite. As homeland says, Russian-German collision in Far East is expected."
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
France, dissatisfied with Far East staying quiet even after alliance, jumped for joy that Russia finally stepped forward.
And Crown Prince Nikolai.
"Ssip, Li Hongzhang. Indeed your diplomatic experience is no joke."
"Over 200 million taels, more than 300 million yen to split with Japan as you see fit. Meaning the more we cut Japan's share, the more becomes ours."
"Not just money, but if this fact becomes known later, Russian-Japanese relations will get quite interesting."
Conditions adding correspondingly as the Crown Prince demands higher amounts.
Li Hongzhang who initially acted like he absolutely couldn't give even 100 million taels, with even the Beiyang Fleet totally destroyed now, completely gave up on the amount and approached negotiations differently.
'Could there be a surer preventive measure? Russian-Japanese antagonism.'
Calculating that if balance is maintained between two powers, Qing won't be eaten by either side.
Though Nikolai saw this as just a 10-year insurance, still Li Hongzhang tried to buy Far Eastern balance with money.
"Contact with Japan?"
"Delivered through Minister Weber staying in Korea."
"Then answer should come soon."
Though Governor-General Sergei gathered as much as possible, this too isn't enough to physically stop Japanese army's advance.
Nevertheless, Nikolai was somehow confident.
'You overdid it.'
Though advancing exaggeratedly as if wanting more due to overdoing it, actually wanting just Korea alone. Not even complete annexation, just driving out other countries.
Can you really sweep away even Russia from Far East as your momentum suggests? While other countries are amazed at Japan's hidden military power, Nikolai sneered.
If Japan truly had such power.
"Your Highness, reply came. Says they'll agree to meet."
They would have just ignored all such contact and devoured all of Manchuria from the start. Havarovsk being fine is proof of that.
"Now then, how much will satisfy them."
For some reason Nikolai felt the previous consolation money might have been too much.
==
Early July, Minister Otori issued ultimatum claiming suzerainty over Korea but was rejected.
2 weeks to seize Korean capital and leadership and establish pro-Japanese government putting forward Kim Hong-jip and Heungseon Daewongun.
Mid-September ground forces under Imperial General Headquarters' direct command occupied all Korean territory.
Late October First Army crossed Yalu River stepping on Manchurian soil.
Complete occupation of Liaodong Peninsula on November 11.
And.
Heard mediation proposal from Russian Minister Weber staying in Korea again on November 12.
"Fuck, why the hell is the Crown Prince still in the Far East!"
Though Prime Minister Ito prided himself on having samurai spirit and bushido, anger poured with vulgar curses from his mouth, but no one sitting at the long table answered.
They too grabbed their necks as soon as they heard the news sent by Minister Weber.
Surely the crazy Crown Prince Nikolai hadn't been in Vladivostok from '91 until now, clearly must have gone back and forth...
"How on earth is that country constantly sending their Crown Prince to the opposite side of the continent! And why to the Far East when their capital is in Europe!"
"Perhaps the possibility of disguise-"
"General Oyama who occupied Liaodong already confirmed. Said the Crown Prince was right above them."
"If it's Oyama Iwao it must be certain..."
Situation changes when the Crown Prince pops out from a country that was quiet without particular movement for years.
Everyone in this place - Ito Cabinet and Imperial General Headquarters military officers - clearly remember that incident then.
'Shamefully the Emperor himself boarded the ship to apologize...'
'Really thought war might break out.'
Though outwardly victim, Crown Prince Nikolai Alexandrovich was closer to perpetrator for homeland in result.
His nightmare resurfaces in their minds once again.
Moreover, unlike then, this time openly using 'mediation' as excuse.
"...I rushed from Tokyo to Hiroshima where my headquarters is as soon as I heard this news. Current situation is no longer just Qing's problem."
Ito, swallowing rising anger with each word end, finally continued productive conversation.
"I want to ask the staff of the highest organ with command authority. If we... fight the Russian Empire, do we have chances?"
"...Six months."
"Six months?"
"We can hold out exactly 6 months."
"Means we'll be pushed back when their main army comes."
Though Ito himself expected it, hearing Imperial General Headquarters' opinion still chokes his breath.
Six months. Conversely means must be driven from Korea after half year.
'Were we too hasty? No, this was a chance that won't come again. First time Korea voluntarily requested help!'
Why did the Crown Prince come? Just like now, what he wanted to say could have been sufficient through diplomats like Minister Weber.
The reason Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi's head could think of was indeed one.
That is, someone with true full authority was sent. Meaning, someone who can enable war.
'...Even so, sending Crown Prince to war zone. Is that country's Tsar truly mad?'
Though the Crown Prince who actually came is also absurd, no use thinking more about this problem.
Empire possessing world's largest army in name and reality.
Country that even Napoleon who built great empire, Britain ruling five seas couldn't win stepping on both feet.
"...One thing is certain now. Collision between Russia and Great Japanese Empire has become inevitable."
"What exactly was the proposal?"
"Said to carefully consider Qing's new negotiation proposal. Main contents are first, recognizing Korea as completely independent sovereign state. Second, war reparations of 150 million yen."
"..."
"..."
The proposal... isn't bad? Such thought briefly crossed minds of all at Imperial General Headquarters.
First treaty's true meaning is effectively denying historical relations by completely denying Korea's tributes and precedents to Qing, meaning Qing voluntarily completely withdraws from Korea.
Second reparation amount slightly less than Japanese government's 2-year tax revenue was truly enormous.
However, all staff members carefully watched Ito's reaction without showing it.
"If you thought conditions good, don't even speak it out. You should know what our original goal was."
Though couldn't make Korea complete dependent state, should have made it protectorate.
Now that 150 million yen seems much, but if advanced across Yellow Sea not just Liaodong, could have extracted double that. Probably could have easily gained most favored nation treatment and stood equal with other powers.
Finally most regrettable part was just getting blocked here when it was time to handle Qing without fleet.
Not regret but anger. Ito was furious at having to overturn situation just because one Crown Prince appeared.
"All powers except Britain took Crown Prince's side. After staying quiet all along, now saying they'll intervene."
"...Then Prime Minister. What do you plan to do?"
"...Negotiation. Yes, must negotiate. But in form of gaining more than now."
Though not sure exactly what Russia received for representing Qing, what else can be gained separately from Korea.
Whether Russia intends to actively intervene coming down to Korean peninsula.
Must meet to find out anything.
"First stop the advance. Huu, I'll go personally."
"Prime Minister personally?"
"Li Hongzhang, that old monster would want that too so put Crown Prince forward."
The longer it drags, more chances for picking at territorial damage, civilian damage.
Though don't know how Li Hongzhang pulled in Crown Prince Nikolai, can't easily end an already won war.
Ito Hirobumi boarded ship next day. Prepared to do anything.