Before the storm (January-March, 1876)
European situation]
The economic mismanagement of the Ottoman Empire and repression attempts against the uprising in Bosnia-Herzegovina were causing considerable social and political unrest in the government of Sultan Abdulaziz.
The Bulgarians, Serbs and Montenegrins are increasingly turning against the Ottoman government with the intention of an uprising against the Turkish power.
From the outside, it is clear that the greatest support for these is Russia, be it its volunteers or its newspapers.
But for now, Nicholas I of Montenegro continues to hope that Russia will stop doubting and move towards a new Russo-Turkish war.
In the Iberian Peninsula, at the beginning and mid-February, the armies of the kingdom of Alfonso XII are forced to turn further south before the advance of the Carlist army in Navarra.
On February 28, King Carlos VII finally "triumphantly" entered the city of Madrid to be officially crowned King of Spain.
On March 7, inventor Alexander Graham Bell obtains the US patent for the phone and three days later makes the first successful phone call.
Several border skirmishes take place between the Legitimist-Orleanist and Bonapartist forces near Paris, without much result from the forces of Napoleon IV.
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[Russian-Korean Summit]
In mid-January, as things heated up in Europe (the Balkans more specifically), the Russians, for their part, were also taking their own actions internationally.
For example diplomats of King Gojong of the Joseon dynasty and diplomatic envoys of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. The European country more specifically is represented by the secretary of Asian affairs Nikolai de Girs.
This definitely marked the Russian-Korean relations at the time, with negotiations that lasted until February 26.
Nikolai de Girs made the points of the Russian government very clear:
* There would be no discussions about Quelpart.
* Russia wanted to establish commercial and diplomatic ties with Korea, by opening the port of Pusan and a Russian diplomatic legation in Seoul.
** Obviously even then Russian commercial properties would have to follow certain Korean statutes.
* Russia was ready for greater cooperation between both nations (in case of problems in the territory).
There were no mentions as to whether the Joseon dynasty was recognized as an independent entity from China or Russia still considered Joseon a vassal of China.
The more nationalistic factions or those who wanted the return of the island 'Quelpart' (a purely European name for the island) were already against point one, which I tried to timidly approach by Korean diplomats but did not work.
However the influence of modernist court factions were quite excited by the idea of importing Russian-Western technology into Korea (with the intention of defending the peninsula).
Even if this meant cending the largest island of the Joseon dynasty to the Russian Empire.
It was mostly discussed which laws could or could not apply to Russian merchants (due to Russian practices that could conflict with the Joseon dynasty). Obviously there should be some commercial activity (in the trade of agricultural products, handicrafts, etc.) but if there should be at least the supervision of the trade in the sale of weapons.
Another issue discussed was Russian properties in the port of Pusan, finally it was decided that Russian merchants could lease but not expressly buy land or buildings.
On February 26, a kind of agreement was finally reached, the Russia-Korea Treaty of 1876.
* Article 1 stipulates that the Russian Empire and the Joseon Dynasty (Korea) would exchange envoys within the following months and maintain diplomatic missions in each country permanently. A Russian legation in Seoul and a Korean embassy in Saint Petersburg.
* Article 2 stipulated the opening of the port of Pusan to sailors (without the purpose of permanent occupation) and Russian merchants.
** Mutual aid was assured to Russian-Korean ships stranded on the coasts of the respective countries in case of incidents.
* Article 3 stipulated trade relations between Russia and Korea.
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The new trade relations in East Asia increased the flow of Russian ships between Tsushima, Quelpart and Vladivostok (plus other cities in the Far East), and therefore Russian investment continued considerably in the region.
Increasing the logistics capabilities of the Pacific Navy and the infrastructure of the Russian territories in the Straits of Korea.
Russian merchants and sailors quickly became a common sight in the city of Pusan (as during the Franco-Russian expedition to Korea). From there the Russians began to sell some European products (mainly Russian) to Korea, and to buy Korean products (curiosities) to sell in Europe, other parts of Russia and to a much lesser extent the United States.
The islands of Quelpart and Tsushima began to be much more inhabited by Russians (although obviously the Korean and Japanese natives were not replaced, exiled or removed).
Where new businesses began to emerge, in addition to speaking Russian became more common for the natives of the islands.
The main trade that began to interest the Korean authorities however was the sale of old Russian weapons to the Korean army, which began to form some coastal defenses (not overly trained yet).
Some Koreans in the military also volunteered at the Chedzhu and Tsushima military academies, where they learned Russian.
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[Sport culture: Round of 16]
The Second Edition of the Russian Soccer League takes place. In this new edition of the Russian Soccer League they face:
Sevastopol vs Kalisz. The Crimean team from Sevastopol defeats the Polish team from Kalisz by 4 to 2.
Misnk vs Saint Petersburg. St. Petersburg's team defeats Misnk's team 3 to 1.
Arkhangelsk vs Kovno. Arkhangelsk's team wins against Kovno 2 to 1.
Moscow vs Murmansk. The Moscow team defeats the Murmansk team 3 to 1.
Vladivostok vs Kharkov. The Kharkov team beats the Vladivostok team by 7-6.
Kurgan vs Grozny. The Chechen team from Grozny defeats the Urals team (Kurgan) 4 to 1.
Vyborg vs Mangazeya. Vyborg's Finnish-Russian team defeats Mangazeya's team 6 to 3.
Erivan vs Yekaterinodar. Erivan's Armenian team is triumphant over Yekaterinodar by 6 to 5.
This means they go to the quarterfinals:
* Sevastopol.
* Saint Petersburg.
* Arkhangelsk.
*Moscow.
* Kharkov.
* Grozny.
* Vyborg.
* Erivan.
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[Internal situation, Russia]
Tsar Alexander III was accompanied by the minister of war Dmitry Milyutin, the minister of finance Nikolai von Bunge, the minister Alexander Gorchakov and the minister Pavel Petrovich Melnikov.
"Are the railway lines ready?" Emperor Alexander III asks Melnikov.
"We have repeatedly checked the southern Transcaucasus and the line to the Danube, we have corrected the faults found and the mobilization plans are prepared together with the war ministry." Melnikov affirms.
"Did the Romanians agree to let us go to Ottoman lands?" The emperor asks Gorghakov.
"Yes, they have not proposed their support but they will let us pass." Gorchakov responds.
"How are we financially?"
"A war would put pressure on some financial points, but with everything we've done, we're probably fine. As long as it's a 'short' war, but that decision is not in my power." Minister von Bunge responds.
"Excellent. The war plans?" Emperor Alexander III asks Milyutin.
"All officers are prepared for orders, and the General Staff has extensively planned the logistics and objectives of the next confrontation with the Ottomans. I myself will lead the assault on Pleven as you requested." Minister Milyutin responds.
"Then everything should be in place for the war against the Ottomans." Emperor Alexander III mentions.
The Russian war plan was a two-front plan. A Balkan front and a Caucasian front, leading mainly to an attack on the Ottoman forces in Europe.
On the other hand, the Caucasian front would be mostly defensive or attrition according to Russian plans, although some advance (if possible) would be allowed to the Ottoman city of Kars.
On the one hand, on the one hand, surveillance was planned towards problem regions with a Muslim majority by the Okhrana, police and some members of the army, only for the immediate suppression of revolts on Russian territory (it is a necessary precaution when you face the caliph of Islam ).
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"You will be in charge of the Russian pavilion at the world exhibition in the United States, but I have some particular requests." Emperor Alexander III explains to his minister Alexander Yegorovich Timashev.
"I hear you sir." Minister Timashev responds.
"I want you to send some of the seniors and graduates from some of our institutions, I hope they can learn or put new knowledge into practice. I collected some information." Emperor Alexander III mentions. "I am also interested in the possibility of attracting an interesting person, apart from that you have to discuss some issues with the other great powers."
"Understood." Minister Timashev exclaims.
Simple decisions can certainly have important effects, such as the decision to allow the student (quasi-graduate) Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov to go and help the preparations of the Russian pavilion at the Centennial Exhibition.
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[Situation of the Slavic revolt at the international level]
The pressure of Russian journalism attracted the attention of some foreign journalists to the current conflicts in the Balkans, many of them with a Christian orientation and more liberal than the Ottoman Empire, which already caused some blindness.
But the attention emboldened more to the Slavs, or to the Slavic masses, who thought they were finding greater chances of having allies in the future.
The spirit of the Slavs (Serbo-Croatians, Montenegrins and Bulgarians) was rising rapidly, which was on the other hand worrying even more the Ottoman authorities for fear of being overwhelmed by them.
In the Batak region, a total of 15,000 people, men, women and children (the men among them secretly associated with arms of Serbian-Montenegrin origin) were beginning to raise problems for their support of rebel ideas (nationalism directed against the Ottoman government above them).