Empire of the Ring

In the early days of the Arirang Autonomous State, Youngho called Korean medical workers to settle in Kazakhstan and work in the hospital.

Although they were given many benefits and off days, they could not get away from the autonomous state even on their vacation because the moment they went outside the stone wall, they would be greeted by wild wolves, and when they got out of the Arirang state, other cities were full of police officers who were trying to rip off foreigners. They could not dream of traveling within Kazakhstan, so they had to go overseas during long vacations, such as Azerbaijan or Georgia.

That was why Youngho had opened the placer mine near the Koryoin town where old Kim Sung-chan used to live.

Korean medical workers and their families loved to collect alluvial gold regardless of their age. It was not a lot of gold even if they collected for a whole day but they had their fantasies about collecting private money, and it was a fun experience for them as well.

They did not have to use panning bowls because there was a grain-sized alluvial gold everywhere, which people could just collect by their hands as they walked through the stream.

Eriksson, who was listening to Youngho’s explanation, laughed out loud.

“Hahaha… Was that your idea, Your Highness?”

“I don’t remember who suggested it but the gold collecting was attractive enough for people to stay in the autonomous state. They even spread the word to their friends in Korea, and more medical workers from Korea decide to move eventually.”

“It’s a good idea but it won’t have a lasting effect on European technicians.”

“Oh, well. I guess I should call Koreans who like gold.”

“I’ll accompany you for this resource sales trip and actively promote it to Europeans.”

In terms of resource diplomacy, the leader of resource-poor countries usually visited resource-rich countries, but Kazakhstan was the opposite. Youngho would take money and technology in exchange for the nation’s rich resources.

Eriksson said that Kazakhstan would be a great power in the world because it was now a constitutional monarchy and the international community viewed it differently now. As the country advocated free democracy, not just constitutional monarchy, it was now no different than other European powerful countries.

Youngho was flattered to hear it, so he added some words,

“In fact, Kazakhstan is a country that is a mixture of Europe and Central Asia because it is located along the Ural River. Europeans would know that Europe and Asia are generally distinguished by the Ural River.”

“Everyone knows that, but Kazakhstan is a member of Central Asia, no matter what.”

“It’s Europe, I say!”‘

“Alright, if you say so.”

Eriksson did not accept Russia as Europe even though he was a European. The boundary between Europe and Asia was amorphous because the boundary was historically and culturally intertwined. It was usually distinguished by the Ural Mountains, Ural River, and the Bosporus Strait in Turkey, but Eriksson thought it was meaningless.

“The size of Western Europe is similar to that of Kazakhstan. That little Europe is not so great. In fact, many Europeans adore Asian cultures.”

“Asians admire Europe too and think that they have a lot to learn from Europeans.”

“Do you think so too, Your Highness?”

“Well, I said we’re already a member of Europe, so why should I admire Europe?”

At Youngho’s insistence, Eriksson did not say anything in response.

“And I go to Europe for a resource sale, and I have to insist that I’m a member of Europe.”

***

The purpose of going on a resource sales trip was to highlight the Central Asian market more.

Although Central Asia was close in distance from Europe, there were many restrictions. Except for airplanes, there was a significant lack of accessibility in Central Asia. It had the Caspian Sea, but because it was an inland sea, vessels had to use a canal to get in.

Even though there was a railway from Georgia which was adjacent to the Black Sea, it was extremely uncomfortable due to old facilities.

It would get a little better if the railroad double-track project was completed, but it would take a long time until it could be used because the double-track project was delayed due to the Georgian government’s economic situation.

That was why Youngho was actively pushing the Volga-Baltic Waterway since it had great accessibility from Europe and the West. The purpose of resource diplomacy this time was to promote the Volga-Baltic Waterway by guaranteeing its safety by the Kazakh royal family.

It was a little funny that Youngho was going to promote it instead of Russia, but it was all for Kazakhstan’s future.

Park Jong-il, who had been to the Uyghur refugee camps teased Youngho to hear that he would be engaged in sales diplomacy in Europe.

“Oh, you’re so diligent. Putin will soon deliver a plaque of appreciation to you soon.”

“Don’t try to tease me from the morning. How was the refugee camp?”

“Man, there are so many frostbite patients in the camps. It’s because the Chinese side is not responding to our request to provide transportation.”

“What do you mean, Commander Kabak said he had a deal with the Chinese side? They said that they’ll transport the refugees on a truck or bus to the border.”

“The Chinese military said that it’ll offer vehicles near the border only. People walk three days to a week to get to the border. Who’s going to be in perfect shape after walking for so long in this cold?”

The Tian Shan Mountains’ basic temperature was minus 2 to 30 degrees Celsius. Plus, there was heavy wind, it almost felt like one’s skin would fall off.

People wanted to bring their cars, but most of their belongings were taken away at the checkpoints before they left Xinjiang Uyghur. So, they had to walk the long distance to get to the border.

It was such an unfair treatment of them.

“We’ll have been only receiving patients who are dying. The Chinese people are doing it on purpose.”

“Why didn’t you say that we’d provide vehicles?”

“We couldn’t insist anymore because the Chinese authorities flipped out saying that we’re making false accusations of them. I had no choice but to back off because I was afraid that they’d change their minds for sending Uyghurs.”

“You said it was weird when you insisted that the pollution was sweetening to China.”

“Does Commander Kabak know about it?”

“Yeah, but what can he do?”

“Jeez, I should’ve known when China insisted that pollutants are blowing from Kazakhstan. They’re determined to pull us down.”

“We’re fools to have believed them. We should come up with a solution.”

“Let’s protest to the Chinese ambassador and if the Chinese government ignores it, we’ll call back the Kazakh ambassador from China.”

“You want to provoke China?”

“It’s not impossible. Right now, we’ve got Russia on our back. I’m thinking of stronger measures.”

The reason why Youngho was trying to take a strong action was that Kazakhstan was now in good terms with Russia. Russia had no choice but to remain allies until the end of the waterway project involving the royal family.

“What is a stronger measure?”

“I’ll tell them that I’ll lock the pipeline to China.”

“Whoa, calm down, Your Highness. We’ll be in trouble for that. The pipeline is Chinese property. And if you don’t fulfill the terms of the contract, you’ll have to pay for damages.”

“I went over the contract carefully. According to the contract, but if we can’t produce oil or gas due to a natural disaster, the terms are not applicable. It’s kind of an exception.”

“When was there a natural disaster in Kazakhstan?”

“I’ll make it happen.”

“…”

“The harsh weather is also a natural disaster. If the cold-resistant Uyghurs got frostbite, it’s due to the extreme cold weather. We have full evidence.”

“That’s a little far-fetched, but not absurd.”

“Jong-il, go into the Xinjiang Uyghur and get more evidence.”

“I already have proof. What are you talking about?”

“We need to collect evidence and tell the world about how China is treating Uyghur refugees.”

“That’s good. That kind of work is a piece of cake.”

“But make sure that intelligence agents don’t get in contact with the Chinese military in any case, okay?”

“Our agents have that much self-control. What are you worried about?”

“Hey, what if Chinese soldiers bothered Uyghur girls in front of you? Would you let it pass?”

It might not happen, but it seemed that Chinese soldiers would not be so kind to the people who were leaving them voluntarily.

“We’d have to withhold it no matter what. Don’t worry about it, our agents are trained to even endure tortures.”

“I don’t trust you the most. You’ll be the first one to take the Chinese soldiers down if you saw that happening.”

“Man, it feels like something’s going to happen.”

“So stick to the plan and make sure they don’t collide.”

“Would you call Prime Minister Kasim and summon the Chinese ambassador first?”

“The government should not take action, but the royal family should take the initiative first. It will be humiliating if the Chinese government rejected the Kazakh government’s request.”

“What about the royal family?”

“The royal family is not an official authority of Kazakhstan. Also, the Chinese government respected the royal family as a priority rather than the government before. It might be easy to get a positive answer if the royal family stepped in.”

“If it was so easy like you say, we won’t have to collect evidence from Xinjiang Uyghur.”

“No, we must have a proof for the sake of the future.”

“Are you still thinking about locking the pipeline?”

“I’m telling you, I told you that I’m going to lock up the pipeline, but it won’t be so easy as I have said. We’d have to think about the national interest of Kazakhstan.”