Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Scientific Management Technique (5)

Originally the Joseon king who would have received the posthumous name Heonjong after dying young suffering from sedo family’s pressure, Yi Hwan.

But now history twisted.

He is reigning as a legendary monarch who grasped the best absolute power in Joseon dynasty history, leaving only a few steps until emperor declaration.

“Your Majesty. Afraid whether the people will stay still.”

“If not staying still what will they do?”

“Foreign crown princess is a matter without precedent. The only precedent is when Goryeo submitted to those Mongols and forcibly mixed blood, worried opposing public opinion will be big.”

“Claiming Britain is a barbarian bunch like Yuan now?”

“Not that-”

“Has a Yuan princess been born and raised on this Three Han land? Born on our land and knows our language how call Westerner. Ministers study the old historical records again.”

Even Yi Hwan who blew away ministers with one breath of breath, could not do so to Heungseon-gun. Because Heungseon-gun is one of the few royal relatives?

“Does the foreign minister also think I am excessive?”

“This subject only receives Your Majesty’s holy will.”

“Then will ask. Why do you think I am pushing this marriage?”

“Seems resolved seeing Annam (Annam, Vietnam).”

“That is also correct.”

Vietnam resembled Joseon in various ways.

An Eastern country not completely free from China’s influence, contacted Western forces and cultivated a strong army and set out on large-scale reform. Literally fish-shaped bread?

But Vietnam gradually began to set angles of confrontation with the West, and finally France and Spain entered war with Vietnam on the pretext of missionary execution.

“Some foolish ones say Annam is enduring even suffering foreign invasion, so if striving in military preparedness and training elite soldiers no longer need to fear Western invasion.”

“This is nothing but nonsense frogs in a well chatter not knowing how big the world is, so not something Your Majesty should mind.”

Yi Hwan and Lee Ha-eung’s heads naturally hurt. Still so many trapped in that thin world what to do.

Is the West funny?

The memory of just a few years ago hundreds of thousands of Hanyang people almost all starving to death and enemy troops flocking right in front of the capital and fussing about evacuation or not all cut out from the brain?

If war with the West occurs once all sea routes are cut. No matter how much Joseon expands military expenses can beat the British Royal Navy with that?

Rice and sugar and all sorts of raw materials imported at cheap prices from overseas will all stop, and the invader can freely implement landing operations wherever wanted spreading the Joseon map. Joseon has no choice but to curl the body round like a turtle and endure as much as possible. Because cannot organize an expeditionary fleet and burn London.

Guys who looked down on the West saying Crimean War or Indian rebellion are all getting beaten to pulp now.

Above all, Joseon was much more scared of Qing and Russia than Western powers. Even if war with Britain and France occurs stamping a fucking treaty would be all but those two seemed would really destroy the ancestral shrine and state and install the Four Han Commanderies.

The war on that distant Annam land was not others’ matter.

The French Empire that wanted to get along well with Britain contracted with the British East India Company and decided to receive Joseon sepoys. The Joseon Kingdom could not intervene at all about this.

But Qing foamed at the mouth.

“Joseon became arrogant and now joining hands with Western barbarians and invading the same vassal state! Will never leave alone!”

In the situation where the results of the Self-Strengthening Movement are coming out one by one, Qing’s real power holder Prince Gong began fiddling with the bulked up new-style army.

If a common sense person confronting the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom making a mess in own bedroom first would be first, but the owner of China is not just having the Central Plains land but must keep the title of leader of the Eastern world. They did not want to obediently give the traditional vassal states Joseon and Vietnam even while the thatched house was burning.

Must unconditionally tightly hold Britain’s pants.

Although the probability Britain swallows this country as a colony is not zero, that is already resolved.

Therefore Yi Hwan wanted to know about Britain, and ordered to collect information as much as possible somehow even sending a plenipotentiary minister with the poor living. Because convinced understanding of Britain and the West will soon decide this country’s fate.

But the more knowing the country called Britain was truly hard to understand. No matter how much effort ultimately they Joseon people had no choice but to roughly memorize Britain’s political system converting to Eastern style as much as possible.

“There are two factions called Conservative Party and Liberal Party, heard the Conservative Party is a bunch of short-sighted petty people pursuing hegemony and the Liberal Party is a bunch of gentlemen revering virtue.”

“Th... at is.”

Lee Ha-eung tried to say ‘not that’ then stopped. So he is sitting in this seat even though a royal relative.

Instead he added to the king’s words.

“Lee Aseul who returned to Britain at a young age devoted to studies receiving help from Gladstone (Gladstone) whose fame as a gentleman was widespread. Because that Gladstone is a Liberal Party person the Conservative Party came to hate Lee Aseul, and our Joseon too.”

“That Gladstone is a true scholar of the West could know just seeing the proclamations he wrote. Undermining such a scholar just because a political opponent, and biting the blood clot who lost parents early like a mosquito because associating with that scholar how is the Conservative Party not a den of petty people?”

“...Truly correct holy teaching.”

Arthur in Yi Hwan’s head was still not much updated from the old days walking toddling in the palace wearing fancy clothes.

Heungseon-gun saw the appearance of dozens of black pythons hissing inside too often so the sound ‘even if I was Conservative Party would have gritted teeth and beaten that guy must catch when can catch’ rose to the throat but endured well this time too. This was all the duty of the power holder.

Anyway, in the fuss triggered by Consul General Alcock Joseon realized the British Conservative Party is not favorable to them at all and in the worst case might throw Joseon to Qing for their interests. So no choice but to more actively support the Liberal Party.

‘What can this beggar country do even if saying support.’

“In the foreign minister’s view, no more other things?”

“Perhaps interested in inheritance-”

“Absurd sound!”

Asked whether wanting to gulp Arthur’s property since Arthur has no son yet only daughter but Yi Hwan flatly denied.

“Aseul not even thirty yet can’t produce a son? If really no son can adopt, if not adopting the older brother will inherit.”

“Right.”

“But... still if we become in-laws, can expect a bit?”

Lee & Gladstone, Far East Company etc. Arthur’s companies were too big.

From Britain’s position one of many large companies, but in Joseon’s view a super giant company that ate all the country’s core interests whoosh.

Enormous interests that would make eyes pop such as ginseng monopoly rights, Gyeongin Line railway operation rights, water and sea transport monopoly rights all fell into Arthur’s hands, so even if cannot get back must have a bit closer relationship somehow?

“Fortunate the foreign minister understands well. Anyway please strive so this national marriage can be accomplished by persuading Aseul well.”

“That matter rather entrust to the plenipotentiary minister stationed in Britain-”

“I trust you. If not relying on royal relatives who will I trust?”

Fucked.

No way that evil ghost bastard will obediently marry off the daughter.

Even if sending seems will tear something more.

Lee Ha-eung became really really dizzy.

***

As of 1859 Yi Hwan’s age thirty-two.

Made painstaking efforts so the bloodline of the three clans absolutely does not cut in his generation, but precious hands in this damn royal family whether some curse the surviving child was ultimately only one crown prince. The rest all died.

And surprisingly one more curse was attached to this family heritage. Precisely the eldest son unconditionally dies.

Yeongjo’s eldest son Hyojang Crown Prince.

Sado Crown Prince’s eldest son Uiso Crown Grandson.

Jeongjo’s eldest son Munhyo Crown Prince.

Sunjo’s eldest son Hyomyeong Crown Prince.

How can die in a row like this?

Yi Hwan knew his body well.

He was frail, and seemed no particular talent in prospering descendants.

Instead devoted heat and sincerity to health management, and invited several Western doctors to see the royal family’s treatment. If cannot give birth to many children at least must survive until the child grows up.

Suddenly wanting to see the crown prince he moved his steps. Around now would be time playing fun riding the bicycle presented from that distant Britain.

“Father!! Fatherrr!!”

“Crown Prince Your Highness!”

“Aigu, will fall-”

Cheolpudeok!!

The crown prince who got off the bicycle as soon as seeing his father and ran with both arms spread wide in tottering steps staggered and fell. Those next to were astonished and didn’t know what to do.

But the crown prince before anyone raised him got up quickly with soil dust stained all over the body and ran to Yi Hwan again and stuck tight.

“Not hurt?”

“Hurts!!”

“Even so so dignified?”

“Compared to father’s pain worrying day by day thinking of the ancestral shrine and state and the people this small one’s pain is nothing!”

“Heuhahaha. The crown prince so intelligent the great fortune of the state. Come here.”

Yi Hwan lifted the small child high and put on the shoulder.

“Uwaaaa.”

“Yo, Your Majesty!”

“You don’t nag annoyingly.”

“But this is etiquette-”

“I desperately wished when young that the late king would do this to me. But I cannot even remember the late king’s face what to do? I just want to leave something more in the crown prince’s memory.”

As raised the dead dad shield the eunuchs whose mouths were blocked only bowed their heads deeply.

‘Too much even doing.’

‘If saying so here what trash do we become Your Majesty?’

He who completely removed the eunuchs played with the crown prince briefly then slyly opened the mouth.

“Crown Prince.”

“Yes.”

“Crown Prince perhaps Ahee... no. Fine.”

“Ahee’s cheeks are soft!”

Asking such to a kid not even ten what answer will come out and what meaning that has.

“Then crown prince perhaps something wanting to do? Something wanting to have?”

“Euum...”

Pondered for a long time so briefly anxious what if the answer ‘want the throne’ comes out from the son’s mouth, but the answer that came out from the child’s mouth was a bit absurd.

“I also want to go to school!”

“School?”

“Said if going to school kids are enormously many. Heard delicious things many in front of the school and the playground is enormously big.”

“Heo...”

The royal family must gradually cultivate new close forces. If not making domestic famous families maternal relatives through marriage promises rather must solidify friendship.

When the two royal relatives studying in Britain return a new force centered on them will rise, and new ones not found before such as great merchants, factory owners, overseas factions will gradually crave power.

Yi Hwan’s calculation was interrupted at some moment.

“Right. Let’s do so.”

“Really?!”

“Right right. The king does not speak empty words.”

This child also if having reliable friends like Yi Hwan himself might be a bit less lonely.

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