Chapter 20: The Russian Civil War - Koreans in Moscow
Lee Si-young, appointed as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, was overwhelmed with work.
"Comrade Lee! Azerbaijan has requested assistance!"
"Comrade People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs! Delegates from Helsinki have arrived for international solidarity!"
"Are you Comrade Siyeong Lee? We've come to reestablish diplomatic relations with Ukraine and the Baltic States."
Seeing Maria working beside him, he often wondered if she was planning to flee with him in a romantic escape. Ah, does Maria hate me...?
Time flew by, and Lee Si-young found himself buried under an ever-growing pile of work.
From July 4 to 6, 1918, the Fifth All-Russian Soviet Congress was held.
The Congress was held for one reason only: to ratify the Russian Constitution.
It was a precious document, painstakingly drafted word by word by the People's Commissars, including myself, through relentless effort.
All I hoped for was that it wouldn't be dismissed as fantasy literature in the future.
However, as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, I had a more pressing matter to address.
"As People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of Soviet Russia, I offer my sincere apologies."
The assassination of the German diplomat in Moscow on July 6, 1918.
The signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk had emboldened the Mensheviks, who had always been hostile to the Bolsheviks. They were eagerly seeking to overthrow the Soviet regime, and this diplomatic assassination was part of their scheme.
The goal was to trigger a war between the Bolsheviks and Germany by assassinating the diplomat.
"...For now, Commissioner Li, and the Soviet Government itself, it seems you have no reason to be hostile towards the German Empire. Therefore, I won't hold you accountable for this."
"That's correct. Our government signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk immediately after coming to power. I was the one who signed it. Why would we want to wage a pointless war against innocent Germany? We will take responsibility for the perpetrators and punish them, so rest assured."
Soviet Russia was already fighting wars on all fronts.
If Germany were to tear up the treaty and advance on Moscow here, there would be no way to stop them.
The Japanese Army was advancing toward Vladivostok, while the Anglo-American Allied Forces were gradually occupying cities along the Arctic Ocean.
Making Germany an enemy would mean the destruction of Russia.
Lenin furiously vowed to purge the Mensheviks, who, with their utter lack of realism, had nearly provoked war with Germany.
Thanks to this, the Russian Civil War expanded nationwide, with even left-wing factions opposing the Bolsheviks rising up.
Returning to my office in Moscow, I collapsed onto the sofa.
Why does it feel like there's more work the more I do?
"Good work."
"Don't mention it. It's just the usual work. Hang this up on the clothes rack. I'm sweating profusely."
Maria, now familiar with her duties as my secretary, swiftly organized the clothes with practiced efficiency.
"Speaking of which, we had a visitor earlier who has since left."
"Who was it?"
"They left this note. And... they were Asian."
Asian? Here in Moscow?
I slowly read the note Maria had left. Surprisingly, it was written in Korean.
[ Dear Comrade Lee Si-young, ]
My heart began to race with excitement.
[Greetings. My name is Vladimir Sergeevich Lee. My Joseon name is Yi Wijong. I heard the rumor that a Korean like you holds the highest position in Soviet Russia, that of People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, and came to pay my respects. It's a pity you weren't here... ]
"Maria!"
"Yes?"
"Call this person immediately using the number provided. Right now!"
I turned away from Maria, who was hastily dialing the number, and repeated the name to myself: Yi Wijong.
"Yi Wijong... The Hague Special Envoy. Isn't that him? Yi Jun, Yi Wijong, Yi Sangseol?"
Any Korean student who has studied Korean history would never forget those three names.
And one of them committed suicide on the spot, another died of illness...
Could it be? Is the remaining one here in Moscow right now?
"Comrade Siyoung! He's coming here now!"
This was the second Korean I'd met since Kim Alexandra.
My heart began to race with nervous anticipation.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Vladimir Sergeevich Li, but you can call me Yi Wijong. Please excuse my rusty Korean; it's been quite some time since I've used it."
"Likewise. I am Lee Si-young, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. I haven't spoken Korean in ages either. I only get to use it when I meet Koreans in Russian territory. Haha."
Surprisingly, Yi Wijong wasn't much older than me.
He said he was eight years my senior, but then how old was he when he was part of the Hague Special Envoy...?
His face bore clear traces of hardship, with a stubbled beard and messy hair, yet beneath it all, a strikingly handsome face was visible.
Is this the Korean independence activist Yi Wijong?
"Let me ask you something. Are you one of the three delegates sent to The Hague in 1907? Mr. Lee Jun, Mr. Lee Sangseol, and..."
Yi Wijong couldn't hide his astonished expression.
"...Yes, that's right. But how on earth do you know about that? It was supposed to be a strictly confidential mission..."
I couldn't say I knew because I was preparing for the civil service exam.
"That... wasn't it reported in the newspapers when you were dispatched as a special envoy? I had some spare time while working as the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and looked into such things, ha ha..."
"Ah, I see. Well, it's deeply moving to know that someone remembers my sacrifice for our fallen nation. To think there's someone who acknowledges what I did..."
"Please, don't be so moved... I feel terrible."
"Have some tea and let's talk."
"Ah, thank you, Maria."
"Are you two married?"
Maria, who had brought the tea, suddenly asked in Russian. Our faces flushed immediately as we hastily denied it.
"No! No, we're not. He's just my secretary."
"T-That's right. Comrade Siyoung is correct. I'm just working as his secretary."
"Hmm. I see. To be honest, I asked because my wife is Russian."
"Your wife is Russian?"
This was news to me. Yi Wijong nodded.
"Yes, that's right. She probably doesn't even know whether I'm alive or dead. After the armistice with Germany, I returned to Moscow, while my wife remained in Petrograd."
"Why haven't you returned to your wife...?"
Yi Wijong was silent for a moment.
"Well... the truth is, my wife was once a lady of the Baron's House. And now I've joined the Bolshevik Party. If I return to her, it would undoubtedly be a great shock."
Is that all? So many people changed sides during the Russian Civil War.
"Forgive me for being presumptuous, but wouldn't it be better to tell your wife yourself? I was in Petrograd during the October Revolution. Your wife is probably waiting for you, Mr. Lee Jun. Wouldn't it be better to tell her yourself?"
"I would like to, but I can't. Once, I devoted my life to the independence of my fatherland and fought on the front lines for the Russian Empire. But now I have a new goal."
"What do you mean by 'goal'?"
Yi Wijong answered without the slightest hesitation.
"To succeed in the Bolshevik Revolution and liberate the oppressed proletariat and colonial peoples from the hands of the world imperialists."
My jaw dropped. Was this man... a real Communist?
"I will fight on the front lines, even if it costs me my life. I've already survived countless brushes with death, and I may die in the next. For the sake of the Revolution's great cause, even family can sometimes be a meaningless obstacle. Those with dependents tend to become weak."
Yi Wijong's eyes burned with unwavering resolve as he spoke.
Seeing this, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Even as the current People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, I lacked such fervor.
Feeling a jarring contrast between this Yi Wijong and the textbook version I knew, I carefully asked:
"Then... what brings you here today?"
Yi Wijong hesitated briefly before replying:
"I was curious. When I saw the photograph of the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and realized the Asian man in the picture was one of our compatriots, I wanted to meet you. But finding you wasn't easy."
No wonder.
I had been busy traveling back and forth between Yekaterinodar and Tobolsk for treatment.
Besides, it would have been difficult for an ordinary person to meet a People's Commissar.
"I'm currently with the Bolshevik International Brigade and am scheduled to be dispatched to the Eastern Front in three days. Since I might not make it back alive, I wanted to talk to you before I go. And... it seems we've had quite a pleasant time together."
With that, Yi Wijong stood up.
"Uh... you could stay a little longer if you'd like."
"No, I heard you're very busy. I'll be taking my leave now."
"W-wait a moment!"
I hurriedly stopped Yi Wijong as he tried to leave the room.
During the Russian Civil War, the Eastern Front was in the Primorsky Krai region.
Then, there was one thing I had to do.
"There's a woman in the Far East named Kim Alexandra. She guided me to Petrograd and helped shape who I am today."
"Is such a person really there?"
I nodded vigorously.
"But the Allied Powers will soon advance into the Far East, and the Communists there, including her, will face certain death. Please help them if you can."
"...You said her name was Kim Alexandra?"
"Yes. Her full name is Alexandra Petrovna Kim. She's probably in Vladivostok or Khabarovsk. Please help them if you can. I beg you."
Yi Wijong nodded. Then he replied.
"As just another soldier, I may not be able to help. But if I find myself in a position to do so, I will definitely assist them. Then, Comrade Lee Si-young, take care. Good luck."
"May you be victorious, Comrade Yi Wijong."
Yi Wijong gave a slight nod and stormed out of the office.
The door slammed shut with a bang, and I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes.
"Who was that man who just left?" Maria asked.
I answered with my eyes closed. "He's an independence activist from Joseon, like me. He was even sent as a special envoy to the Hague Peace Conference to denounce Japan's illegal annexation of Joseon. This was the first time I've met him in person... I never imagined he'd become a Communist."
Maria nodded, as if she understood.
"Well, Japan is one of the Allied Powers, isn't it? That's probably why they're trying to establish an independent Korea through communism..."
"That's right. That's likely the biggest factor. Just like the Czechoslovak Legion, which had to ally with hostile forces to rebel against us and gain independence."
As far as I remember, all three Hague Special Envoys died without witnessing Korea's independence.
They weren't alone. Countless independence activists not only Korean never lived to see their homeland free.
I'm currently working for Soviet Russia, but if these efforts eventually lead to Joseon's independence, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?
Right now, Russia lacks the capability to focus on the Far East, but someday it will go to war with Japan and push into Asia.
That's the vow I made:
I will never allow Kim Il-sung to establish his grotesque regime over the Korean Peninsula.