Under the Mikado's flag : or, Young soldiers of fortune

Two enterprising Americans, Gilbert Pennington and his close friend Ben Russell, find themselves drawn into the turmoil of East Asia just as the great clash between Russia and Japan erupts. Their initial mission is a seemingly ordinary business matter—collecting a debt from a distant trader—but the volatile political climate quickly pulls them into the heart of the conflict. As seasoned adventurers who have already seen action in Cuba, the Philippines, and China, they are no strangers to danger, yet the unfamiliar terrain of Korea and Manchuria presents fresh challenges.

Against the backdrop of massive naval battles, siege of Port Arthur, and the grueling march toward the Yalu River, the duo navigates shifting alliances and cultural encounters while striving to survive. Their story captures the grit of young soldiers of fortune, the camaraderie forged in hardship, and the stark realities of a war that reshapes an entire region. Listeners will be swept into a vivid tableau of early‑20th‑century warfare, where personal ambition meets the relentless tide of history.