The Joseon Dinasty ruled the Korean peninsula with iron fist. Hwuan Yi was a little boy under the clutches burocrats and imperialists. However, one of these burocrats had new ideas about the country destiny. His name was San Yi. Korea paid a tribute to China in change of protection and technology, but new times arrived in summer of the year of red rooster. The region needed a new leader in honor to the name of the year and San Yi was the person who had to lead Korea.
San Yi had studied in Beijing and he knew the debilities of the regime that oppressed his country. The british army was the tool to the total independence of Korea. The europeans wanted to sell opium in China to equilibrate their commercial balance. Faced with China's refusal, the war started. China had a great army, but nothing to do against the modern post napoleonic european armies.
When the news arrived to Korea, San Yi expelled the chinesse diplomats, and asked to have new technology and the territories of the manchu race vinculed to korean dinasty. San Yi was not a big man, but he was like a fox; he wanted to take advantage of chinesse debility.
The diplomatic contacts were numerous in the posterior years. The travels between Beijing and Hanseong were normal between the foreign ministers. San Yi changed the rules when he saw that China never would declare the independence of Korea. The fox needed someone else to hunt and then he ate the prey. And the fox found the predator in the biggest country on earth, Russia. However, San Yi would not have easy things. The russian embassador, Alexander Tupolev was a extremist zarist who had old ideas about the modernity. He was a tall man with a big grey beard and lover of the vodka. But this was not a handicap. His opinions about China were strong and clear at the same time, and this angried San Yi.
The embassy of Russia in Hanseong was near to the principal street of the city. In this time Hanseong was a poupolus city but nothing to compare with modernity. There was not sewerage. and the roads were not cobbled. San Yi went to the embassy on first friday at the start of summer. The sedan stopped in front of the embassy. Despite being summer it was raining, and the sun was behind grey clouds. Near the door Tupolev waited with a habano in his mouth.
-Hello, sir. Somebody has said me that you have travelled to Moscow last days -said San Yi.
-Yes, the things are complicating here. The drums of war are beating louder and louder -replied Tupolev.
-Your family, is here? -asked Yi.
-They went out of Korea about thirty days. But not talking about this, we are here to resolve.
-I hope that the dialogue could do your family to come.
-I hope that too, but enter the embassy. The weather is not good this summer -said Tupolev.
The two men went in the building into a great room that seemed the San Petersburg Imperial Palace full with Zar´s portraits. There was a big ceremonial brown wood table with two chairs. Tupoled invited Yi to sit in the nearest, while he went to the farest. A man took with him some documents and gave in hand to Tupolev.
-Thanks to you, Sasha -Tupolev drank a little of wáter -. Let's go. The first theme is the support of Russia to Korea for his independence.
-Okey -was Yi's answer -. We want support inclusive the province of Shenjing.
-Not is posible. Our men will not die fot the greed of your king. If you want that, we will support the Qings.
-But It is a manchu province!!! -exclaimed Yi.
-There is a great han population. This Is our advise -Tupolev took a bottle of White vodka.
-So, you will support the pig Qings!!
-Yes, that is our interest. There Is nothing to say if you invade this province.
Yi was sweating. He drank a little quantity of water. This is sometjimg that he didn't wait.
The korean was three minutes in silence. Finally he spoke.
-Will you change your opinión if the Joseon King give you a militar base in the province of Geongyan?
-the answser Is negative.
-so, what do you want?
-we will support the war against Qings in change the total province...
San Yi was white. Korea will have a conquest, a populaled province but lost a historical region. This was not good. How will he say to King that? But...
There was a only oportunity. The Qing's Army was weak, but every year that went out, it will be stronger.
-Okey. Korea will lost a province but will win a new one. In change, you will guarantee our independence.
-the deal is good -said Tupolev.
Sasha took with him a paper, a new document written now and put it in front of Yi, on the table.
- Sign us It -said Tupolev.
-I will sign It but my country will me call traitor -said crying the korean adviser.
The war started in that summer. The korean province was lost in favour of Russia. The korean army took defence of the north, while the russians invaded Manchuria. Over two months the war finished. Shenjing was korean and Korea had its independence. San Yi was found hanged in his house in the outers of Hanseong. "Geongyan will be a problem in a future", wrote in a paper left in a table near him.
San Yi had studied in Beijing and he knew the debilities of the regime that oppressed his country. The british army was the tool to the total independence of Korea. The europeans wanted to sell opium in China to equilibrate their commercial balance. Faced with China's refusal, the war started. China had a great army, but nothing to do against the modern post napoleonic european armies.
When the news arrived to Korea, San Yi expelled the chinesse diplomats, and asked to have new technology and the territories of the manchu race vinculed to korean dinasty. San Yi was not a big man, but he was like a fox; he wanted to take advantage of chinesse debility.
The diplomatic contacts were numerous in the posterior years. The travels between Beijing and Hanseong were normal between the foreign ministers. San Yi changed the rules when he saw that China never would declare the independence of Korea. The fox needed someone else to hunt and then he ate the prey. And the fox found the predator in the biggest country on earth, Russia. However, San Yi would not have easy things. The russian embassador, Alexander Tupolev was a extremist zarist who had old ideas about the modernity. He was a tall man with a big grey beard and lover of the vodka. But this was not a handicap. His opinions about China were strong and clear at the same time, and this angried San Yi.
The embassy of Russia in Hanseong was near to the principal street of the city. In this time Hanseong was a poupolus city but nothing to compare with modernity. There was not sewerage. and the roads were not cobbled. San Yi went to the embassy on first friday at the start of summer. The sedan stopped in front of the embassy. Despite being summer it was raining, and the sun was behind grey clouds. Near the door Tupolev waited with a habano in his mouth.
-Hello, sir. Somebody has said me that you have travelled to Moscow last days -said San Yi.
-Yes, the things are complicating here. The drums of war are beating louder and louder -replied Tupolev.
-Your family, is here? -asked Yi.
-They went out of Korea about thirty days. But not talking about this, we are here to resolve.
-I hope that the dialogue could do your family to come.
-I hope that too, but enter the embassy. The weather is not good this summer -said Tupolev.
The two men went in the building into a great room that seemed the San Petersburg Imperial Palace full with Zar´s portraits. There was a big ceremonial brown wood table with two chairs. Tupoled invited Yi to sit in the nearest, while he went to the farest. A man took with him some documents and gave in hand to Tupolev.
-Thanks to you, Sasha -Tupolev drank a little of wáter -. Let's go. The first theme is the support of Russia to Korea for his independence.
-Okey -was Yi's answer -. We want support inclusive the province of Shenjing.
-Not is posible. Our men will not die fot the greed of your king. If you want that, we will support the Qings.
-But It is a manchu province!!! -exclaimed Yi.
-There is a great han population. This Is our advise -Tupolev took a bottle of White vodka.
-So, you will support the pig Qings!!
-Yes, that is our interest. There Is nothing to say if you invade this province.
Yi was sweating. He drank a little quantity of water. This is sometjimg that he didn't wait.
The korean was three minutes in silence. Finally he spoke.
-Will you change your opinión if the Joseon King give you a militar base in the province of Geongyan?
-the answser Is negative.
-so, what do you want?
-we will support the war against Qings in change the total province...
San Yi was white. Korea will have a conquest, a populaled province but lost a historical region. This was not good. How will he say to King that? But...
There was a only oportunity. The Qing's Army was weak, but every year that went out, it will be stronger.
-Okey. Korea will lost a province but will win a new one. In change, you will guarantee our independence.
-the deal is good -said Tupolev.
Sasha took with him a paper, a new document written now and put it in front of Yi, on the table.
- Sign us It -said Tupolev.
-I will sign It but my country will me call traitor -said crying the korean adviser.
The war started in that summer. The korean province was lost in favour of Russia. The korean army took defence of the north, while the russians invaded Manchuria. Over two months the war finished. Shenjing was korean and Korea had its independence. San Yi was found hanged in his house in the outers of Hanseong. "Geongyan will be a problem in a future", wrote in a paper left in a table near him.
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