Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Yun Chi-ho, Yi Sang-jae, Namgung Eok, Kim Ga-jin, Yu Gil-jun, Oh Se-chang, Ahn Gyeong-su, and even Seo Jae-pil.

As foreign-educated figures who led the early Independence Club and grew their influence, thanks to their efforts, there were now quite a few Independence Party members in parliament who supported constitutional monarchy.

The Imperial Association, which grew by receiving the Emperor's backdoor money centered around arbitrarily employed peddlers and merchant associations, was fundamentally different from this Independence Club.

The presence or absence of ideology.

The difference in sense of purpose.

The diversity of participating classes.@@novelbin@@

The will to reform.

And these differences had widened even more during the 15 years since establishing parliament under Russia's strong recommendation.

Though there were always many parties like the Nationalist Party, Christian Party, and Liberal Party throwing their hats into this parliamentary battleground and rising up, ultimately none could defeat this Independence Party that had strived for Korean independence since the late 19th century.

"But isn't it strange? The Independence Party is still treated like cold rice as the opposition. Though they have the most members nationwide and established 18 branches 25 years ago, and now want to lead reforms based on this, they haven't achieved anything."

"...What does that have to do with this situation? I warn you, don't push politics on me."

Despite Lee Dong-hwi's firmness, Yi Wan-yong continued speaking without showing particular reaction.

"Look here, General Lee Dong-hwi. Though you seem to dislike political talk so I won't discuss it, don't you know what I'm trying to say? Why Korea hasn't changed even after changing its name to the Korean Empire. Why this country doesn't develop but stays in place even after being given independence. Why you and your subordinates don't receive proper compensation even after dying in Europe."

"..."

The more Lee Dong-hwi refused to hear about parliament and party struggles, the more directly and explicitly Yi Wan-yong spoke.

"The root of this country's evil is the Yi royal family itself."

"Lies! Without His late Majesty, this country wouldn't have united and would have split without gaining independence! Why did Russia help Korea's independence! It's all because Gojong sent troops during the war with Japan and kept faith!"

"Yes, Myeong-bok did well on that one thing, after suffering for half his life. Tightrope walking to protect his own bowl. But could there only be such bright sides?"

While Lee Dong-hwi continuously sought reasons to remain loyal as a soldier, Yi Wan-yong was different.

He was someone who had spent decades quietly searching for reasons, for evidence why the Yi dynasty must fall.

"I hoped something would change when parliament was established. I wasn't expecting the abolition of the status system and complete upheaval like the Gabo Reforms. At minimum, I just thought that if someone was king, if they were ruling as the parent of the people, they should work for Korea above all else."

"...His Majesty wanted independence more than anyone."

"Were there any Koreans who didn't want Korean independence in those times? The many foreign-educated people with me called for pro-Japanese stance like Shin Suk-ju of King Sejong's time, but none of them wanted to sell out the country!"

That wasn't all. Only now that Russia has been confirmed as the victor in the Far East is Korea's independence finally guaranteed, but back then, this country was like a candle in the wind.

In an era when the Wijeongcheoksa faction monopolized power and militias rose up opposing foreign culture...

Even in that era, it was the foreign-educated faction that called for reform despite criticism and condemnation.

"But Myeong-bok couldn't forget his days of cozying up to powerful families. So he blatantly ignored parliament and filled the cabinet to his taste, and if that wasn't enough, this so-called king got addicted to political thuggery. As if those thugs were Russia's Okhrana."

Having watched such behavior for decades, Yi Wan-yong had now given up hope even in the parliamentary system.

Not just that. Master Choi Jae-hyung, who led overseas Koreans and learned about Russia more than anyone, didn't even think about returning to Korean soil.

If it had been resistance against foreign invasion, Koreans would have raised militias.

If it had been an era of rampant aristocratic politics, parliament would have united to protect the king's power and drive out the traitors.

But if the king himself is more corrupt and power-mad than anyone, refusing to allow any change...

"Then what should I do? Should I submit a petition and be exiled far away like the old scholars? Or should I, born of the middle class, try to imitate the nobility?"

Then what should be done?

"...Why are you asking me this?"

"What I truly want to say is... both you and I already know the answer."

The reason Yi Wan-yong sought out Lee Dong-hwi was also because he saw his past self in him.

The days of living in despair, finding neither hope nor enlightenment even after parliament was first established...

He came because those dark and desperate days were now unfolding before this hero of troubled times.

"Though the status system was abolished, most people still live worse than slaves, and though we gained complete independence and became a sovereign nation, nothing has changed. Because the rulers of this country are already satisfied with the current state of affairs."

"So... are you telling me to become a traitor? Yes, His late Majesty, no, Myeong-bok might have been a dark ruler trapped in his own stubbornness, but he's already dead!"

"Like father, like son. If the newly enthroned Emperor follows in his father's footsteps, there will be no chance for this country."

Now the next Emperor's inclinations were no longer important to Yi Wan-yong.

Because his homeland was Joseon, not the Korean Empire, and his loyalty was to the nation, not the monarch.

No, the foreign-educated faction had long since abandoned such loyalty since the king abandoned the country and fled to foreign legations to save himself.

To Lee Dong-hwi, who still hesitated to get his hands dirty despite having bloodied them so much on the battlefield, Yi Wan-yong drove in the final nail.

"This country has been dragged into others' wars twice. And external chaos inevitably shakes the internal. You know the end of this deployment better than I do. Haven't you heard about it in your youth?"

"...The Imo Military Rebellion."

"Now you who were dragged into others' wars, tell me with your clean mouth. Even Russia has declared neutrality, how many more times must we be dragged into others' wars?"

Yi Wan-yong tried to attribute even all foreign invasions to the royal family's 'incompetence'.

Though Lee Dong-hwi immediately noticed this... Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

'...Damn it.'