Chapter 118

Chapter 118

First Joseon-Qing Crisis (3)

Since the Second Opium War Joseon and Qing’s diplomatic relations were always renewing the worst.

Qing in Joseon’s eyes a fucking country where Jurchen barbarians who were once our lackeys somehow luck exploded amazingly and ate Ming and succeeded.

There was a time very briefly the side acknowledging reality took the upper hand, but facing the situation of choosing getting beaten by Britain VS getting beaten by Qing the soul of looking down on old Jurchen barbarians burned again. Better if eating Manchuria too.

From Qing’s position, Joseon’s sudden change was literally ingratitude itself. What reason could preserve that meager small country until now? All because of the great country’s generosity?

The agitation of foreign powers Britain, France, Russia.

Endless rebellions that can be called China’s fate.

Plus the vassal states’ secession attempts.

For Qing to continue as the center of the Chinese order, to maintain the national polity had to overcome all these trials.

Once the foreign powers that cannot be overcome fortunately did not demand land. Central Plains products endless so if sticking some gold silver treasures in the mouth seems can soothe somehow.

So the remaining two, rebellion and vassal states’ secession must suppress by any means.

And recently, some of Qing’s enlightenment faction began making different claims.

“Your Highness. Must no longer allow Joseon’s arrogance.”

“Must make Joseon Great Qing’s colony.”

“Colony? Why need colony leaving this huge Central Plains?”

“If not strictly punishing those who dared to bare teeth at the heavenly dynasty backed by the West those who learned the wrong lesson might appear.”

“That is already known. Therefore trying to punish Joseon?”

“The heavenly dynasty not intervening in the vassal’s internal affairs is a long-handed down custom, but the reason we do Self-Strengthening is precisely to accept Western culture and make a stronger country. The reason Joseon became so arrogant today is also because learned Western culture, so shouldn’t our heavenly dynasty also bestow colonial rule on them exactly in the Western powers’ way?”

Qing’s enlightenment faction personnel had no particular interest in profit creation through colonies, cheap raw material supply, securing monopoly markets. Not other countries but China why need such things?

They paid attention to the raw reality the 1860s world shows, in one word the role of colonies as a premium item that raises the country’s prestige and provides mulberry taste to the people.

Like a patient with kidney stones or appendicitis clicking the button and fentanyl pouring into the blood vessels obtaining peace instead of pain, how good if Great Qing also can forget the pain of reform and reality every time pressing the button called Joseon? Anyway Qing’s appearance was not much different from kidney stone or appendicitis patients.

“Those are claiming Manchuria is their old land.”

“Must strictly deal so cannot chatter such delusional sounds again.”

Security problems were also important.

Vietnam is far away, but Joseon is really a distance where nose touches if falling over?

Even setting aside the Joseon army’s growth, looking at the so-called East India Company army Britain’s mercenary unit spine-chilling.

“Assuming Britain moves the company army, can immediately easily threaten Beijing crossing that small Yellow Sea.”

“Even if we conquer Joseon probably cannot receive the existing interests Westerners secured.”

“But before the company army moves, can block the company army on Joseon land.”

Use barbarians to control barbarians.

If making the Hanyang court a puppet, and making the Joseon army block the Chosen army Qing can become much safer. The bonus of the insolent idea of crawling out to Manchuria disappearing.

“Then I will report to Your Majesty.”

Anyway the parts where trouble occurs with Joseon were too many. Enough to drive to war.

Illegal immigrant problem, smuggler problem, border problem etc.

Joseon was actively raising the opium problem against this. The absurd claim that Chinese keep trying to sell opium to Joseon.

Above all, for Prince Gong to continue Self-Strengthening and reform needed achievements.

His older brother the Xianfeng Emperor died.

But before dying, the older brother regarded as completely eunuch soaked in opium suddenly produced a son.

At that time Prince Gong half went crazy.

If the child was not born, if born a daughter Prince Gong himself would have ascended the throne!

‘Doesn’t seem resemble? Or? Does resemble?’

Trying to blurt that this child is not the older brother’s son, subtly seemed resemble dad or not.

Someone seemed would go crazy but suddenly in the palace mad sounds like ‘actually that child is Prince Gong’s child I clearly saw with these two eyes’ flowed out and scratched his mental hard.

Moving to meet the young child emperor Prince Gong gathered his mind.

“Meet the empress dowager.”

“Come in, Prince.”

The new emperor - Tongzhi Emperor’s biological mother.

People called her Empress Dowager Cixi.

Truly a woman like a viper and snake.

***

When Prince Gong Yixin shouted Self-Strengthening and reform and seized Qing’s power, and big shots like Zeng Guofan - Zuo Zongtang - Li Hongzhang appeared in a row and shouted Great Qing’s fate not yet ended.

Those who could not be with him gathering and forming the conservative faction was an extremely natural thing in the physiology of power.

Orthodox Neo-Confucianists like Wojeok and Waein (not Japanese).

Manchus who have much to lose and dislike enlightenment and reform.

Those who dislike Prince Gong who does not let go of power as a traitor who confined the older brother.

Prince Chun Yixuan who was trembling whether would die.

And finally Empress Dowager Cixi.

As one spoon of the 21st century future person’s vicious scheme full of Anglo-Saxon spirit was poured, the moment Prince Gong was flustered these instantly gathered and formed a huge force and now the power structure rather became disadvantageous to Prince Gong. Prince Gong weak in conspiracies or schemes probably will not know who did it until the day of death.

The empress dowager doing regency instead of the still young emperor was an extremely natural thing, but the emperor’s uncle trying to lead state affairs is a vicious traitor’s steps no matter who sees. Right now even just looking at China and Joseon’s history books those who pickled the young nephew and sat on the throne themselves are full?

Now the path left to Prince Gong was only show and prove.

If cannot produce results the end.

“What on earth sound. Joseon conquest?”

“If not strictly punishing their arrogant attitude our ancestors’ old land Manchuria will be violated.”

Waein who became the Tongzhi Emperor’s teacher and practically discussed state affairs as Mongolia representative sincerely glared at Prince Gong as if despising.

“Why is the prince not thinking of ruling the vassal with virtue and discussing vicious weapons?”

“Their attitude too arrogant for that.”

“If enjoying fighting so much fine beating Westerners.”

“This guy!!”

“Stop!”

Empress Dowager Cixi stopped the two people’s argument that was about to intensify.

“This will ask. Joseon already not much different from becoming Britain’s vassal, truly will Westerners stay still even hitting Joseon?”

“That is not something to worry. Because of course will not stay still.”

Prince Gong who saw the power diplomat trembling as if the seizure button was pressed immediately bent to a new strategy, Plan B.

If the West does not intervene planned to input the elite Xiang Army and trample Hanyang at once and drag the Joseon king, but since those already began laying out nonsense fine causing a war crisis and dragging to diplomatic war and moderately proving Great Qing is not yet a paper tiger.

“That is, now when Joseon dispatched to the war on Japanese land is precisely when can receive the maximum concession from them and conclude a favorable treaty.”

“Treaty? With a vassal?”

“If somehow can specify in the treaty only the fact they are Great Qing’s vassal-”

“Even I a woman thinking Joseon does not seem will easily do that. If those refuse to specify that clause to the end what happens?”

Then must war fuck, such words absolutely cannot say. Empress Dowager Cixi was poking the sore spot.

In the worst case even Zeng Guofan might turn. From the beginning fiercely opposed this expedition.

‘Crazy? If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom lays eggs like cockroaches again must do the mess of the past few years from the beginning again!!’

“To the end part of negotiation. If those refuse to specify they are our vassal, fine taking practical benefits instead of conceding this.”

“Abandoning justification and taking practical benefits is something only wicked merchants do. For a great country the most important is great cause and justification!”

“If those resolve and refuse to be a vassal, the way to break this is ultimately only force.”

“So from the beginning should not have relied on military preparedness. Should have awakened them that entering our arms themselves is much better than those vicious British pirate bastards!”

Ultimately Prince Gong who was tormented to the full could barely obtain Empress Dowager Cixi’s permission much later.

Absolutely do not cause war.

Do not touch the West’s mood.

Now since Your Majesty is young rather than causing a big mess the time to comfort with virtue so anyway refrain from ominous things.

Anyway obtained permission so fine.

Time to negotiate.

***

The Yalu River was always the best smuggling hotspot.

When Joseon and Qing’s relations were fine trade worthy of calling was shabby beyond compare. Then besides following the envoy mission all smuggling trade so of course the Yalu riverside was a hotspot.

Now the Westerners’ mysterious principle, free trade spread and Joseon people also soaked in that custom and became greedy like crows gathering sparkling gold and silver.

But the two countries’ relations not only severed but became vicious, so the trend of all trade still proceeding as smuggling did not change at all.

But now was different. Became a shape thousands tens of thousands of armies confronting across the river where a madman trying to smuggle?

“-So now a mess occurred in the northwest. Because trade with China was cut overnight.”

Yi Hwan took out the best card he can bring out in negotiation with Qing, Prime Minister Park Gyusu. Lee Ha-eung had no leisure to send to Beijing busy going in and out of the British and French legations like honey applied.

Cannot go alone Park Gyusu dangling for this important negotiation.

The Joseon court selected talents as much as possible and put them in the negotiation team, and talents who graduated from the university Yu Honggi and Oh Gyeongseok safely joined the negotiation team well utilizing the connection of interpreter origin.

Among the people selected as the negotiation team and served there was high status hardened noble Kim Byeonghak so only a bit uncomfortable.

“Northwest people all violating the country’s law and making a living with smuggling?”

Sure enough, Kim Byeonghak’s eyes frowned.

When Yu Honggi was about to answer something, Oh Gyeongseok opened the mouth first.

“How much did our dynasty oppress the northwest? Those ignoring the national law is because those who kept the national law all died. The principle of evolution Darwin proved is precisely this.”

“That delusional theory people came from monkeys?”

“The theory that between monkeys and people speaking monkeys... that is something like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven existed.”

“Like if Jurchen evolve a bit more become Joseon people.”

“Hearing so again a plausible theory.”

Andong Kim, finally revival!

The days half expelled and shedding blood tears also gone.

The brothers Byeonghak and Byeongguk who were cold rice status diligently studied Western learning and eagerly waited only for that day of revival someday, and as a result of diligently stamping subscribe and sponsor like on the king’s YouTube finally both brothers reached being used in the country’s big matters. Only Joseon’s best family Andong Kim can do the endurance among endurance.

After arriving in Beijing, while Park Gyusu prepared the meeting with Prince Gong.

Kim Byeonghak who received orders in advance trembled hands and had time of degeneration.

“This subject Byeonghak, for the ancestral shrine and state whatever! Even jumping into the fire pit carrying firewood! Can do!!”

This is all just the process of becoming a modern-boy!

Right, Byeonghak he actually originally wanted to cut hair!

Topknot is unsanitary so not very suitable for an enlightened gentleman! Of course!!

“Do!”

Oh Gyeongseok who briefly took a big breath held a large knife and scissors.

Byeonghak’s hair was cut swish swish, and Byeonghak who became one excellent queue man without even leisure to wail somewhere a highest grade rickshaw sold by Lee & Gladstone suddenly ran.

From old said the enemy’s enemy is ally, so Qing’s conservative faction and Joseon sufficiently could become friends.

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