Chapter 119

Chapter 119

First Joseon-Qing Crisis (4)

A few years ago from now, in Hong Kong the so-called <​Esing Bakery> incident occurred.

Someone mixed arsenic in the bread baked at Esing Bakery a Chinese-owned bakery, and nearly 500 people who bought and ate bread here were poisoned. Of course the absolute majority Europeans.

Fortunately almost no deaths. Because too much arsenic was in the bread most vomited before ingesting sufficient lethal dose.

However among those who died after this incident at least three were speculated as aftereffects of arsenic poisoning. Among these the Hong Kong governor Bowring’s wife was also included.

The political situation became a mess.

Not to mention Hong Kong society, the British home country that knew the fact of suffering an unprecedented chemical terror also overturned. Needless to say the hawk imperialists’ voices saying must retaliate grew.

Coincidentally the bakery owner Zhang Peilin was in Macau on the day the incident occurred. He was first designated as a suspect, caught in Macau and transported to Hong Kong then indicted on poisoning conspiracy charges.

There was noise even in this process, because British law had no crime of poisoning unspecified majority. Humanity was less developed in the concept of <​terror> - harming unspecified majority for political, ideological, religious purposes, and 19th century terror was almost all assassinating big shots with guns or bombs.

Even in the middle of this mess Governor Bowring pushed through jury trial against public opinion of ‘kill immediately’ and ‘refer to military trial’, and the prosecutor and lawyer held fierce legal battles.

[Rather than showing the disgrace of advertising to the whole world that the British Empire could not catch the real culprit better hanging an innocent Chinese neck!]

[The day of killing an unjust person without physical evidence is precisely the day the British Empire’s justice is hung!]

Surprisingly the jury acquitted Zhang Peilin. Got some money torn, had to abandon the shop and leave Hong Kong but anyway he survived.

Regarding this incident, one thing that was persuasively discussed in Britain and Europe at the time and focus was placed on the investigation.

Precisely the speculation that ‘the Qing court is behind this terror’.

[Qing that lost in two wars with Europe is preparing a new war... local governors and mayors are openly appealing or forcing not to seek jobs under Europeans.]

[Is this really the end? Can guarantee the day all Europeans in Hong Kong are poisoned will absolutely not come?]

[Chinese have neither justice nor morality. Those are beasts or animals wearing human shells, not even a shred of room to be saved.]

[Chinese teach children how to split firewood ‘like striking down a European’s neck’. All Hong Kong people are in the status of China’s hostages.]

Like this racist, anti-China atmosphere boiled, but.

Britain ultimately did not drag this to war. Even though that Palmerston was prime minister.

‘No rights or whatever to tear more from China even warring on this pretext.’

‘As time goes the Qing army is becoming elite. Their armament level now comparable to 2nd rate European armies.’

No longer hitting Qing militarily did not come out in the profit angle. The Qing army madly collecting Western weapons looked hard to win easily like old times just looking.

Even when Europeans died they flicked the abacus and pondered whether to intervene by force. Because Qing is no longer a money box where money pours charrrk just clicking a few times.

Then now?

Will Britain and France really try to block Qing for Joseon even mobilizing armies?

‘No way.’

Kim Byeongguk did not trust Europeans.

Said seeing one knows ten. Just looking at the first envoy Britain sent Consul General Alcock roughly the estimate comes out?

Joseon serves Britain as the superior country and at the same time praises France very devoutly. Not only this but handing over many domestic interests, importing various items, even shedding blood instead.

But those ultimately pursue profits rather than pursuing prestige like old Ming. If Qing does not infringe Europeans’ interests the European bastards will definitely sneakily withdraw feet.

Then where is Joseon’s future?

His thoughts ended together as the rickshaw stopped tuk.

“Please get off. Do not answer, follow me.”

Byeongguk followed quietly glancing at the back of the person in front with head deeply bowed. Perhaps because queued and wearing Qing clothes, the surrounding gazes were not particularly felt.

They continued walking.

Finally arrived at one stable. Precisely that place where the ‘wisest Western scholar’ transmitted the amazing life extension and home education secret, in vulgar words the cuckoo strategy to Great Qing’s prince.

This time too the one waiting renting this stable exclusively was Prince Chun Yixuan who heard the one-shot tutor exclusive lecture then.

“Came well.”

“Pay respects to Prince Your Highness-”

“Not came out to hear such trivial stories. Joseon is practically the same as an enemy country.”

Definitely after becoming the conservative faction Prince Chun’s life changed.

Originally an excellent royal relative who could not even meet eyes with older brother Prince Gong and only vented anger on subordinates, but as reigning as the leader of the conservative faction striving to correct Great Qing Empire’s foundation naturally maintained dignity.

Prince Chun continued words firmly as if he is a loyal subject to the end.

“In the middle of traitors including the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom lined up insisting on fighting Joseon is truly a foolish idea. However, this is also not acknowledging or tolerating Joseon not keeping the vassal’s courtesy and acting arrogantly.”

“Well know. Also sorry to report truly, our Joseon never abandoned the vassal’s courtesy.”

Anyway everyone knows.

Joseon now serves Britain as the superior country.

And the superior country changing from Qing to Britain is because Qing got beaten to dust in two Opium Wars and could do nothing as the superior country while Hanyang was captured.

However the moment acknowledging this uncomfortable truth Qing’s prestige is ground finer than any flour. Cannot fight Britain so all just making a fuss at easy Joseon.

Joseon who knows this flow well has not completely folded the tribute courtesy yet. Because that is the same as putting enormous pressure on Qing to invade immediately now.

Joseon always hopes to send tribute envoys, and Qing refuses saying ‘your attitude is not respectful’ the repetition of WWE.

Prince Chun and Kim Byeongguk’s conversation was also not much different from the lines repeated countless times before.

However if something different this time.

“Prince Gong is damaging the friendship between Great Qing and Joseon so much, how can Joseon serving the superior country stay still?”

“If no Prince Gong will you become more respectful?”

“May I report?”

Common benefits make even enemies join hands.

***

While Park Gyusu and Kim Byeongguk crossed to China and were exchanging diplomatic negotiations and secret talks.

Hanyang’s atmosphere was extremely ominous.

“Tear the Jurchen barbarians!!”

“Advance north!! Destroy Qing!!”

“Behead the emperor’s neck and hold a memorial service at the ancestral shrine!!”

“WAAAGGHHH!!!”

The mobilization order was not proclaimed.

Because Joseon is a beggar country even proclaiming the mobilization order cannot yet give guns or military uniforms.

However they did everything they could.

While desperately supplying the expeditionary force dispatched to Japan somehow sent all the army that should be additionally dispatched scraped clean to the north. That could suppress Japan’s rebels with only the 1st dispatch force was truly heaven’s luck for Joseon who was about to suffocate due to the Xiang Army in Liaodong.

The people from ministers to servants voluntarily paid defense contributions. Men quit tobacco and women pulled out rings.

When war crisis heightens the stock market naturally fluctuates.

[Rice-syrup crisis!]

[Qing and Joseon, head-on collision of two countries!]

[War crisis is enveloping between the two countries over Japan’s control.]

[Joseon is giving enormous aid to Chinese rebels. Until when must the British Empire tolerate such a country harming the Far East’s safety?]

[Joseon the British Empire’s most faithful ally and protected is threatened by barbaric Tatars. Qing’s goal is to conquer and massacre Joseon, and in this process the factories and railways our British people built will all be destroyed!]

[Easterners are calling this war crisis the syrup crisis. This war is threatening, but because will definitely be more glorious and sweet than any war-]

“Fallingaaaa!!”

“Euaaak!!”

“My money! Return my money!!”

“Arthur Lee! Where did Arthur Lee go!!”

“Government explain!!”

“Palmerston I will die like this?? Will die!!”

As the Far East war crisis theory grew naturally the British and French financial districts fluctuated without rest.

The Thames River boasted terrible water quality where even the soul cannot be saved if drowning and even Satan cannot collect, and the Seine River famous for Inspector Javert owing a debt is thinner than Cheonggyecheon. So British and French investors instead of jumping into the river ran to the government building holding guns. 19th century imperialist era investors were originally a bit hot-tempered.

Prime Minister Palmerston this time too unfailingly stroked the Eastern magic conch shell.

“Representative Lee. Why so late.”

“I am not a diplomat but a mere merchant?”

“So what. Now falling is my company stock or your company stock?”

“Falling? Well the Prime Minister’s approval rating.”

While having a small ice breaking time Foreign Minister Russell also arrived.

Palmerston and Russell the two rivals were almost perfect opposites, but surprisingly both agreed on eliminating absolute monarchies as much as possible and widely spreading republics of free peoples.

Not particularly close with Russell, so Arthur immediately hardened the face and started briefing.

“Both countries seem no mind to cause all-out war, but absolute monarchs’ pride or prestige is a major factor that can cause even useless wars anytime. If the British Empire will mediate the dispute between those two countries, of course must keep this point in mind.”

“Well right.”

Anyway neither Palmerston nor Russell particularly highly evaluate Eastern absolute monarchies. The East in their heads was all about an ancient Persia where an emperor riding an elephant palanquin saying lines like ‘I am generous’.

“So... will war?”

“Crazy?”

“Her Majesty said absolutely not that.”

“Then must draw in France. Perhaps Russia too.”

“Heum.”

“I am ignorant about diplomacy, so the cabinet people must discuss well.”

Arthur explained as much as possible about what they most want to know, in one word ‘how far can the two countries concede and what is the reverse scale that absolutely must not touch’.

And that was enough.

Because the British Empire was the world’s best and strongest.

The moment London and Paris reached agreement on the Far East problem, Beijing and Hanyang had no choice but to sign.

A truly beautiful era Belle Époque.

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