Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Old Country but Its Name is New (6)

Will reflect.

Had a bit of prejudice that 19th century people of this end of dharma would of course be full of evil and hypocrisy. Most intellectuals with conscience would fail the resistance judgment and be contaminated as reds. Looking at London slums hard not to feel problem awareness?

But Mill was a bit different.

“I believe women must also have suffrage.”

“That is quite... radical.”

“Under the premise of not harming others, all people must be free and must not have freedom taken by others. Therefore no reason men and women have no right to participate in politics.”

To a 21st century person not surprising to the point of common sense story, but Mill is precisely the person who academically established that logic.

But how this Western sage Arthur Lee just nodding the head quietly.

“According to the words commoners or the poor also no reason no suffrage?”

“Perhaps you, support universal suffrage?”

“Support... if saying a bit strange. Ultimately must become so, I think.”

“Ah. Right. The final goal of us living in a free country must be universal suffrage and more. But realistically giving suffrage to people who did not even learn and lack intellectual ability a bit so?”

Suffrage is a legitimate right so must give.

If giving recklessly to anyone those might vote ignorantly or ruin the country so a bit scared.

But because no suffrage kids constantly saying revolution or whatever spring up so must give quickly.

So ultimately must improve the education system and increase more ‘responsible and learned citizens’!

- is our Mill teacher’s argument.

Considering that even just looking at 21st century Republic of Korea internet website boards ‘that bastard also same one person one vote as me?’ sounds come out occasionally human thoughts seem all similar there.

In that point Mill seemed the limit line of claims this era can allow. Because ments the reform faction of the British Liberal Party would do.

I anyway have not much interest in such social issues. Honestly... from the perspective of me a 21st century person just all uncivilized itself. Right now Mill’s lifelong work was working at the East India Company and ruling India what more to hope.

- Then must present the correct answer even more?

No.

In my view the correct answer, but to people of this era easy to be accepted as ‘dogmatism’. Same as me finding people of this era stuffy.

So if possible just want to shut the mouth about such social issues. The more I speak the more these uncivilized 19th century people will regard me as a super-ultra-red!

“Giving bonuses differentially to employees according to the company’s performance?”

“Right. Then employees will have attachment to the company, and further the company’s success and their own benefit linked so incentive to work harder.”

“Arthur Lee... shares... the performance of management... with workers...”

“What on earth is the night school operating targeting employees? Social responsibility?”

“Of course smart employees do work better than stupid employees.”

“Meaning productivity changes?”

“Everyone wants to become comfortable. If investigating what work doing in the production process, how efficiently working naturally want to improve. If each one moves for improvement ultimately the company’s overall efficiency rises.”

“But that night school not simply studying machines but teaching this and that.”

“Ei. If making people by learning and practicing the probability of causing accidents also reduces.”

“Arthur Lee... values... enlightening the people... me... mo...”

“What help do employees’ health checkups or free medical benefits give?”

“If a skilled worker gets injured that is all loss. Better a hundred times managing the body well than newly recruiting a skilled worker and adapting.”

“Then dormitories or company housing?”

“Even beasts worry about their young, if making a nest work that much harder.”

“Too idealistic?”

“Conversely ask. If fired from the company wife and children also pushed to the street and must find a house from that day. Want to quit the company?”

“Serf... like... subjugation...”

After the interview ended.

I received the test results shared from the two people Mill and Marshall.

“So how? Did the result come out that I am a rational manager who loves freedom and justice?”

“You are a red.”

“But a bit much feudal and absolutist.”

“...Yes?”

The interview was extended.

Really hate the 19th century.

***

Meanwhile.

On the opposite side of the Earth Far East...

“Your Majesty. Now must prepare one ship?”

“Contact Geumseong Sanghoe (Lee & Gladstone). Buy the ship the crown prince will ride with the internal treasury. Come to think of it the British minister stayed too long. Now must replace.”

Surrounding Yi Myeong’s going to Britain the atmosphere inside the palace became disorderly again.

Yi Hwan who gave up the expectation of seeing children anymore suddenly obtained two more sons. Unfortunately not the empress’s but concubine’s, but at the fact this thin three generations’ bloodline became abundant after a long time Yi Hwan’s mouth corners did not know to go down.

But the subordinates’ heads seemed would burst.

‘If His Majesty favors the late child what happens?’

‘Nonsense! No matter favoring the late child how try to do the legitimate eldest son?’

‘Rather must finish the national marriage quickly. His Majesty greatly cherishes Lee Aseul so if the national marriage succeeds not even one in a thousand one in ten thousand will go wrong.’

The successor rice cake of an absolute monarchy is always a problem that must bet staking life.

Yi Hwan himself had no thought of doing anything to the crown prince at all, but originally if the body distances the heart also distances? And kings who go senile in old age and do bizarre things how one or two?

Meanwhile the British legation also became busy.

One country’s throne successor number 1 coming to study in Britain, moreover the next leader of an Asian country very intimate with Britain coming must wipe the mouth?

The British minister proposed arranging a home country warship but Joseon refused. If accepting that seemed the protectorate stamp would stamp bang without even one word of protest.

As the favor mixed with a bit of ‘minor prank’ was refused they immediately started the next step.

“How about briefly stopping by the homeland following the Joseon prince and coming?”

“Th, that saying?”

“Yes.”

Daniel Lee dripped cold sweat streaming.

Do not want to return.

Just want to live sticking a stake in Joseon very much. How many kids born here now. Even if returning-

“If goes well become relative relationship with the Joseon prince. Of course must go together.”

“Th, but. This country called Joseon originally does not like maternal relatives so-”

“Ah. Do not worry. I also know well the fact of wanting to take your Lee family as maternal relatives and promoting this national marriage. I also studied Representative Lee’s writings quite a bit after being assigned to Joseon?”

Checkmate.

The British person who can attend the Joseon prince is only Daniel Lee. Anyone seeing this is the most rational.

But if returning to Britain, never properly seen the face-

‘Euaaaaa.’

The world did not recognize Daniel’s pain.

Lee & Gladstone instantly sold one ship, and the personnel to operate the ship the crown prince will ride were also instantly recruited.

Joseon’s crown prince Yi Myeong and Daniel, and Joseon officials including the minister to Britain newly assigned instead of Cho Byeonghyeon first headed to Japan riding the newly bought ship.

“Waaaaa!!”

“Joseon crown prince manse!”

“East Asia co-prosperity manse!!”

Yi Myeong who arrived in Edo had to play the role of diplomat. Where use a crown prince in a monarchy? Must use at times like this. This is precisely an enlightened modern country!

First the event of meeting the emperor. Of course the guys who saw this and chattered ‘Joseon sent the crown prince and entered the court’ all became fertilizer.

“Does the Joseon crown prince have no thought of marrying a decent Japanese woman? I want to introduce a lady from a good family.”

“Perhaps how pretty- the great matter of human relations is not a problem I decide so please inform the father emperor, Your Majesty!”

Fortunately the crown prince did not cause accidents and safely proceeded with various ceremonies. After the order of ceremonies all ended both the emperor and the crown prince were dragged by subjects and scolded a lot but.

Next the conversation with the shogunate shogun... not the Japanese new government great generalissimo.

“The Joseon crown prince fighting together for the co-prosperity of Greater East Asia came! Have the two countries become this intimate? If no Tokugawa 250 years rule that repelled Toyotomi and devoted to peace with Joseon would such a thing have been possible!”

Anyway the two countries now the same as riding the same boat. For the still precarious new government and Tokugawa if just a bit mobilized for an event a very profitable business.

After the events in Japan all ended boarded the ship again together with the Japanese imperial family’s only descendant, Crown Prince Mutsuhito.

“Joseon crown prince! Please take good care of my son!”

“Do not worry. Will cherish like my own younger brother!”

“Crown prince! Think of the Joseon crown prince as sworn older brother and deepen friendship!”

“...Understood, father emperor Your Majesty.”

The Japanese crown prince boarding the Joseon ship together and going to London.

A hint that the two countries will move matching breath on Far East problems from now on, and also a bit of expression of will not to give everything helplessly to Western powers.

Needless to say the guys who chattered ‘the guy called great generalissimo right after inauguration selling the crown prince to foreign powers! As expected Tokugawa is the non-citizen traitor!’ all became fertilizer. This year’s farming was confirmed a bumper year.

The travel was comfortable.

As always, the ship going to London was full of not only the throne successors of Joseon and Japan but also future talents bearing the homeland’s fate.

They introduced themselves to each other and deepened friendship, and the ship frequently stopped at land and inspected the local.

Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Egypt, through the Mediterranean finally.

London.

The center of the world.

“Your Highness! My goodness! Would have become such a sturdy man!”

“Has the minister been well without illness?”

“Representative Lee helped a lot so not very difficult.”

“Your relatives said must deliver this. Receive.”

Minister Cho Byeonghyeon received various pickled vegetable jars and soybean paste sent from home and wailed greatly on the spot. The successor trembled in fear as that appearance somehow seemed his own future vision.

“Your Highness. Truly plan to stay at Representative Lee’s house? How about using my private house even now?”

“Eheo. Fine.”

“Understood. Then we prepared a banquet so wait for Representative Lee. He will come soon.”

“His Majesty also bestowed gifts to Lee Aseul so I must visit him urgently. Will have many things to receive his assistance in this London from now on how embarrassing if already calling come go?”

“Then will prepare a carriage.”

“Not carriage! Can ride that... automobile?”

“That can only ride two people so a bit hard taking Your Highness’s attendants-”

“Fine! Fine!”

Cho Byeonghyeon grabbed the handle of his beloved horse and quickly transported the crown prince.

Later definitely words would come out, but ignoring the request of the crown prince whose body was burning wanting to ride the automobile and getting marked by future power was more disliked. If the crown prince who later ascends the throne throws him into a place like the American ambassador what to do.

“Arrived. I will open the door so-”

Clank!

Yi Myeong immediately opened the door wide and walked out with big steps.

Arthur Lee’s mansion door was wide open, and the garden looked quite well managed even glancing. If saying Eastern and Western beauty harmonized too much raising?

And in the middle of that garden.

A girl was sitting under the sunlight knitting.

Still some childishness remaining, but anyone seeing the girl could know a flower bud that will brightly burst soon.

The crown prince who was steadily stepping the process of becoming a bit more adult while turning half the world, the moment stepped foot in this garden became a boy again.

“...Ahee correct?”

“Ah!”

The girl who was concentrating on knitting not even feeling the presence was startled at the words that suddenly popped out.

She who slightly pricked the hand with the needle gently put down what holding on the table, then slowly stood up from the seat and looked at Yi Myeong.

“...Who are you?”

The boy’s chest became tattered like a door paper hit by a typhoon.

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