Chapter 117

Chapter 117

First Joseon-Qing Crisis (2)

Saigo Takamori.

The first Japanese Joseon international student.

The title of the first ‘foreigner’ Joseon international student was already taken by the vicious vicious man from the British Empire, but that vicious man if calculating voluntarily came so if calculating formal foreign international student anyway Saigo is the first Joseon international student.

Extremely regrettably, Saigo was in a state of deadly poison injected bitten hard by that vicious British person’s poisonous teeth even before crossing to Joseon.

And the baptism of new-style learning and Western items contacted in Joseon far from curing this addiction state made it a much more serious state.

“The reason Japan could not boldly enlighten and rise like Joseon is clearly in the shogunate.”

“What!”

“Those studying on this land all become distressed. The target a samurai must offer loyalty is the emperor or the shogun? Even now when the divine land’s survival reached the edge of a hundred-foot pole so guns and swords ran rampant over whether the shogunate has the qualification to rule the world or not.”

A story anyone knowledgeable in Japan of this era does, and not particularly unique. Therefore the measure obtaining wide support was precisely <​public-military merger>, the claim that the emperor’s court and warrior shogunate must merge.

Saigo’s differentiation was elsewhere.

He watched Joseon’s great reform with two eyes.

Saw Joseon people who entered the realm of fanaticism beyond loyalty, and also witnessed the moment all old customs and privileges that formed the foundation of sedo families and hardened scholar families tore.

He directly experienced the very moment Joseon people opened eyes to imperialism.

Was in the middle of the agenda formation process where Joseon people opened eyes to nationalism, and everyone from the king to the servant shared the conclusion ‘let’s exploit other ethnic groups for the endless prosperity of our ethnic group’.

Saigo was convinced.

Precisely this.

This is the future.

Look at Joseon’s that unity, the appearance advancing toward a single rank becoming one. Too cool, seemed the world’s most splendid and beautiful flower bursting buds.

To pre-modern people who offered loyalty for individuals such as master, daimyo, shogun, king, the concept of even offering life for the huge great cause of state and ethnic group had overwhelming magic.

“Do we not know that and doing this?”

“Since this seat don’t speak roundabout and just comfortably. You guys powerful domain bastards including your hometown Satsuma just want to seize the shogunate’s power by force the true intention?”

“Only that? The emperor is only chattering nonsense kill all Western bastards expel.”

“Eheo! What reckless words! The emperor’s will was fake fabricated by Choshu bastards!”

“Anyway, in this situation what meaning does public-military merger have?”

Shogunate personnel all could not hide deep defeat. The country collapsing clearly visible, but hands and feet all tied. Not only powerful domains problem but immediately even inside the shogunate proper movement almost impossible due to power struggle.

Saigo found these foolish people truly pitiful.

“So the target of loyalty must be clear.”

“Wh... at?”

“Our loyalty must head only to the country called Japan, and the imperial family ruling Japan. Not the individual Emperor Komei!”

Joseon’s king too.

Qing’s Prince Gong too.

Everyone regardless of method is desperately struggling for enlightenment and opening the country.

“One who rejects enlightenment and leads the divine land to the path of war and national ruin... no matter who must accept subordinates’ remonstrance. That is what I learned and came from Joseon.”

Truly spoke round and round Japanese-like.

Everyone understood perfectly.

***

Japanese emperors had a dream.

The dream of someday becoming Japan’s real master.

The current emperor, Emperor Komei also inherited that dream.

Definitely pull the shogunate down to the subject’s position again and normalize to a country the emperor rules!

To no longer live the miserable life of diluting alcohol with water!

To avoid eating leftover side dishes from banquets as dinner side dishes!

The black ship opening became an opportunity the god gave to such Emperor Komei.

Actually Emperor Komei who showed exclusionist tendencies persistently shouted barbarian OUT, and those opposing the shogunate formed a powerful doctrine of so-called revere the emperor expel the barbarians, unite under the emperor and expel barbarians.

But now all ended.

The loyal righteous men liberated Kyoto from the shogunate’s hands, but the shogunate bastards ultimately forcibly kidnapped the emperor himself from Kyoto and dragged to the cursed land Edo.

Moreover reached the point of openly bringing in foreign armies and committing sword murder with their hands, even so does the shogunate have the qualification to rule the country?

“Heard Your Majesty so despises us Westerners.”

“M, misunderstanding.”

But now.

The shogunate did not persuade the emperor this or that.

Instead despite the emperor strongly refusing, forcibly accepted foreign diplomats’ audience applications and threw him in front of those jackal-like guys.

While Joseon special envoy Kim Byeongguk smiled faintly and expeditionary force commander-in-chief Lee Wonbeom quietly watched, British minister Alcock began gradually pressuring the emperor with a soft voice.

“Thanks to Your Majesty personally issuing a document saying killing barbarians is not a crime, do you know how many good British Empire subjects died?”

“R, rude! I have never issued such a document! Didn’t the shogunate explain!”

“But wasn’t the imperial order promulgated in Your Majesty’s name. Those shouting anti-foreign ultimately acted trusting Your Majesty, so Your Majesty must also bear the responsibility.”

“Hieek!!”

French diplomats and American diplomats also openly added strength subtly behind Alcock with arms crossed.

Emperor Komei was not a foolish person, but lived only looking at books all life detached from politics or state affairs.

Thought if trying hard to die or live still a country the god protects can block foreign powers, but the shogunate kindly informed the result of the battle that occurred in front of Kyoto. Said dead Joseon army only dozens.

Then how strong is the British army that collapsed that Joseon in a few days?

“In this Namamugi incident we plan to claim 100,000 pounds compensation to the shogunate, 30,000 pounds to Satsuma domain. But since this country is Your Majesty’s and the foreigner exclusion edict is also Your Majesty’s, Your Majesty not the shogunate must pay 100,000 pounds.”

“If 100,000 pounds... what... how much?”

“About 1/3 of this country’s 1 year budget.”

As Kim Byeongguk who received a tip in advance whispered in Japanese Emperor Komei now seemed the soul would escape. Yellow skin hair and blue-eyed monsters with the momentum to tear his flesh and liver instead of debt immediately.

“Everyone knows! This country is a country the shogunate and shogun rule not a country I ruled!”

“But those who beheaded and set fire to our good subjects’ necks are all those following Your Majesty?”

Alcock said tightly holding laughter as if absurd.

The reason extremely pissed Britain is not beating Japan now is only one. Too busy and money doesn’t work. The Chosen army is cheap and not British army so just moved lightly like warming up once.

But where not knowing the topic uncivilized native country priest topic daring to kill Europeans or not?

“Minister. Do not act too rude to the emperor of one country.”

“Sorry. I committed some rudeness at the civilians’ deaths.”

Wonbeom who was internally decided to play the role of ‘good cop’ from the beginning quickly waved hands.

“I am an expert in such matters again. I am convinced Your Majesty did not instruct to catch and kill all foreigners. All are mere conspiracies of parasites who plotted to destroy the shogunate. Isn’t that so?”

“Right! Said Joseon is a gentleman country and understands my words!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. But separate from Joseon being a gentleman country, because I received excellent education in a good place could receive Your Majesty’s holy will like this. So saying... may this small person an outsider dare to remonstrate to Your Majesty?”

“Of course. You are a hero who repelled the traitors who invaded Kyoto not even threatening me. Willingly speak. I will listen carefully.”

“This subject even looking like this graduated from a renowned school of the British Empire and could set will on Joseon enlightenment seeing the wide world. How about Your Majesty also sending the crown prince who has grown to study in London?”

Emperor Komei briefly hoped the interpretation was wrong.

But seeing the atmosphere not at all.

“If graduating Eton can become an excellent gentleman. Of course.”

“Come to think of it, Prince Lee degree could receive education at a much better place not Eton?”

“Arthur Lee representative is an Eton graduate. Actively recommended Eton where can feel the British Empire’s prosperity closely rather than places only too high nobles attend.”

“Hoo. Then perhaps the Joseon Kingdom’s crown prince Your Highness also?”

“Heard seriously discussing.”

“Said Joseon also plans to send the crown prince?”

“According to what this subject knows not confirmed yet, but heard the court is seriously discussing this.”

Send son Sachinomiya Mutsuhito to Britain? Isn’t this a hostage? Without losing the war and the country collapsing how such-

Captured Kyoto.

Captured emperor.

Aha! The country collapsed was correct!

Right. Since already the same as the country collapsed demanding such things.

Komei instantly matched focus with reality.

“Even alone would send the opportunity to become good friends with Joseon’s crown prince must willingly send. Since became like this good if greatly gathering international students and sending to London!”

“Thank Your Majesty’s wise decision.”

Now somewhat understanding words.

Alcock sneered inside. Pondered whether must demonstrate a gunboat firing scene holding in front but good thing.

Since Westerners taught the emperor the concept next the shogunate’s turn.

“Have something to report to the emperor.”

Tokugawa’s world will be eternal.

For this the tool called shogunate could be discarded anytime.

***

Same time.

Qing.

“What is this now! Immediately stop the armed demonstration against Joseon!”

“Misunderstanding. Now even moving our army must receive your interference?”

“Joseon is under our protection!”

“From when? Joseon was a traditional vassal of Great Qing. As far as I know Joseon has never been formally declared your protectorate?”

Prince Gong seemed would die.

A large army that moved abandoning even the opportunity to capture Nanjing. Zeng Guofan cursed glaring eyes but he never broke.

If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is a skin disease like scabies Joseon is cancer eroding the internal organs.

If not trampling Joseon once now, those will definitely crawl out to Liaodong the land for Manchus.

Even abandoning all Central Plains land must protect at least Manchuria.

“Fighting is bad! Napoleon III Your Majesty ordered to bring peace to this Far East! Our great French Empire will mediate!”

‘Dog bastards.’

The reason France flaps the tongue mediation or whatever was obvious. The mind to do public mediator a bit and take Vietnam as tip was very clear.

However Qing still lacked the ability to escape these Western powers’ nagging.

Ultimately no choice but to tie with negotiation.

A truly terrible thing.

Once more, Prince Gong pondered whether to hang the neck or not.

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