The Japanese Probe

After the Crimean War, the Far East became a major focus of the Tsarist Russian Empire's expansion.

In particular, the Great Qing Empire's crushing defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War gave the Tsarist Russian Empire an excellent opportunity.

Not only did the Tsarist Russian Empire gain rights equal to those of the Japanese Empire on the Korean Peninsula, but it also succeeded in forcing the Great Qing Empire to lease it Lüshun. The entire Liaodong Peninsula came under the Tsarist Russian Empire's control. Even the whole of the Northeast had become part of its sphere of influence.

But after Nicholas II was killed by a bomb and civil war broke out in the Tsarist Russian Empire, its plans for expansion in the Far East were undoubtedly dealt a severe blow.

Knowing what the Japanese were like, it was entirely understandable that they would resort to petty tricks at a time like this, or even make a direct move to test the Tsarist Russian Empire.

Besides, the Japanese had the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets behind them as a backer.

As running dogs raised by the people of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, it was only natural for the Japanese to obey their orders.

Hadn't the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets chosen to support the Japanese Empire and help the Japanese win the First Sino-Japanese War precisely so that the Japanese Empire could serve as cannon fodder to contain the Tsarist Russian Empire's expansion in the Far East?

The Japanese Empire was still not strong enough.

But with the Tsarist Russian Empire facing problems of its own, the Japanese Empire now seemed as though it could be put to use.

At the very least, there was no harm in trying first.

Unfortunately, the Far East was not yet under Grand Duke Mikhail's control.

Even if the Japanese made a move now, Mikhail had no way to respond.

Only after winning the civil war and ascending the tsar's throne could Mikhail continue expanding in the Far East. At the same time, he could prepare for the coming war with the Japanese.

In the distant Far East, at the prime minister's residence in Dongjing.

Itō Hirobumi, serving his third term as prime minister, was discussing their next move with a group of senior cabinet officials.

"Gentlemen, civil war has broken out in the Tsarist Russian Empire. Grand Duke Mikhail and the empire's senior leadership, headed by Grand Duke Nicholas, are locked in a fierce struggle.

"For the empire, this is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity.

"Surely none of you have forgotten the humiliation of the Russians forcing the empire to give up the Liaodong Peninsula a few years ago, and then contesting the Korean Peninsula with us?"

Itō Hirobumi said to the assembled officials.

The senior Japanese cabinet officials all wore expressions of shared hatred for the enemy.

The Japanese had defeated the Great Qing Empire in the First Sino-Japanese War, and it had been just the time to carve it up and extort it at will.

But the Tsarist Russian Empire had gathered the German Empire and Gaul to pressure the Japanese Empire, forcing it to give up the Liaodong Peninsula.

For the Japanese Empire, this was an immense humiliation.

The Tsarist Russian Empire's subsequent large-scale penetration of the Korean Peninsula was even more unacceptable to the Japanese.

At the time, the Japanese had already regarded the Korean Peninsula as their exclusive preserve.

The Tsarist Russian Empire's actions were nothing less than snatching food from a tiger's jaws!

But the Tsarist Russian Empire was powerful. Even the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, the world's hegemon, had to deal with it carefully.

As a result, the Japanese Empire could only swallow its anger.

Now that trouble had arisen within the Tsarist Russian Empire, wasn't this the perfect opportunity for the Japanese Empire to avenge its humiliation?

This left the Japanese Empire's senior officials sorely tempted.

"Your Excellency, gentlemen. The people of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets have also made an indirect request, hoping that we will take a firmer stance on the Korean Peninsula!" Foreign Minister Nishi Tokujirō said.

At this, the Japanese Empire's senior officials all looked displeased.

They all knew very well that the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets treated them as running dogs and cannon fodder.

Otherwise, it would never have given them such strong support in the first place.

But knowing what the Japanese were like, they were constantly thinking of turning on their master, the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, once they became strong enough.

They were deeply dissatisfied with being treated as running dogs and cannon fodder by the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, and regarded it as a humiliation.

"Gentlemen, the empire is not yet strong enough. We cannot do without the support of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets.

"Especially if the empire goes to war with the Tsarist Russian Empire, we will need its full support.

"However, I believe that as long as we can defeat the Tsarist Russian Empire in the future,

"Then the Liaodong Peninsula under its control, and even the whole of northeastern China, will become the empire's sphere of influence.

"This will make the empire even stronger.

"When that time comes, the empire may no longer have to watch the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets for signs of approval before acting, much less serve as its running dog!"

Itō Hirobumi knew what everyone was thinking, so he gave them this reminder.

It had to be said that the Japanese were very good at enduring.

When they were weak, they were content to serve as running dogs.

But once they grew strong, it would likely be their masters who suffered.

"Although the Tsarist Russian Empire is caught up in a civil war, it remains one of the world's foremost great powers. For the empire to defeat it, we must strengthen ourselves further.

"In particular, the imperial navy still needs to order and build quite a few warships.

"Support from the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets is indispensable to the imperial navy at present."

Navy Minister Admiral Saigō Tsugumichi addressed the assembled officials.

Although the Japanese navy had become the strongest in the entire Far East after defeating the Great Qing Empire's Beiyang Fleet,

The Tsarist Russian navy was far stronger by comparison.

In terms of the number and tonnage of its warships, the Tsarist Russian Empire currently ranked third in the world, behind only the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets and Gaul.

A very large gap still separated the Japanese navy from the Tsarist Russian navy.

The Japanese Empire's other senior officials agreed with this as well.

"Gentlemen, if no one has any objections, then this time we shall increase our troops on the Korean Peninsula and forcibly replace some officials of the Kingdom of Korea, so as to test the Russians' reaction!" Itō Hirobumi said to the assembled officials.

"Yes, Your Excellency!" the senior officials of the Japanese Empire answered one after another.

The Japanese Empire then used the supposed threat to the interests of its nationals doing business on the Korean Peninsula as a pretext to dispatch a mixed brigade and forcibly station it there.

At the same time, the Japanese navy was also active, sending several warships to anchor at ports in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

This was undoubtedly a provocation against the Tsarist Russian Empire.

But the Tsarist Russian Empire was now occupied with its civil war and had no energy to spare for the Far East.

Thus, faced with the Japanese Empire's aggressive provocation, Speyer, the Tsarist Russian Empire's minister on the Korean Peninsula, chose to yield.

Unfortunately, yielding could never win an enemy's mercy, no matter the time. Instead, it would only make the enemy more arrogant and encourage them to demand a mile after being given an inch.

The Japanese were particularly conspicuous in this regard.

After realizing that the Tsarist Russian Empire had no time to attend to the Far East, the Japanese became even more inclined to demand a mile after being given an inch.

They began forcibly interfering in many of the Kingdom of Korea's affairs, and a large number of officials friendly to the Japanese Empire were appointed. The Tsarist Russian Empire's interests on the Korean Peninsula suffered severe damage.