Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Project Behead the Horse

I returned to Britain, to London.

But returning to London does not mean everything ends in perfect success.

You can tell just by looking at the industry senior <​Robinson Crusoe> or the 21st century version Robinson <​Volleyball Wilson>.

- That’s not the title.

Who remembers that movie title one by one. I confidently say staking my grandfather’s name, Volleyball Wilson is much more famous than the movie title. Next is probably FedEx delivery.

Let’s take a simple example.

“Now we don’t have a house?”

“...Yeah. It became like that.”

“Ei. It can be like that. Home is not a building but hyung and noona.”

They say the house our family lived in was sold to others.

If it was evil schemers who pulled a long con after the parents passed away... I would have burned with revenge, but it wasn’t particularly that.

When the parents suddenly passed away, the trading business they did of course also went bankrupt.

Receivables were hard to collect, and demands for money to be paid of course intensified. There is insurance but it was too tight to be resolved with just that one thing.

To summarize only the conclusion, the people father trusted and entrusted various assets to finished the traffic cleanup within the most reasonable line.

Things like the London house or horses only cost maintenance if kept so they sold them all and put them into paying debts, and the remaining money was kept so it could be used for things that require large sums like Daniel hyung and Violet noona’s remaining tuition or future dowry.

- Very... clean?

Right. At least it didn’t become <​A Little Princess> style so I’m grateful.

But the problem was that there was no place to stay right away, but this part was covered again by the power of mysterious connections. Because the club father belonged to decided to provide lodging.

When I entered the club house after riding the carriage, the club members dressed in classy suits all stood up from their seats and applauded.

Uncles all wrapped in acrid tobacco smell, glancing at each other and quietly gathering to stroke me and touch me and knead my cheek flesh... whatever clothes they wear, the things ajusshis do are all the same across East and West, past and present.

“Henry’s youngest returned alive.”

“The Lord is truly merciful.”

“How much hardship this little one must have suffered! If our club doesn’t help at the club level who will help?”

“Of course. The tragedy of the Lee family is not someone else’s business. It’s something that can happen to us too.”

“Uwaaaa.”

In this 19th century club overflowing with macho smell, of course there is a ban on children entering and a ban on women entering.

But now it was different.

“Children. Come here.”

“This is the place your father often sat.”

There weren’t many people who would say rules or whatever when a person thought dead returned alive.

No, actually there were quite a few, but since everyone’s gaze including the press was focused on the club, they couldn’t act coldly here. Because it was perfect for being bitten.

Before long Violet’s eyes turned red again, and Daniel quietly took out a handkerchief and rubbed his eyes hard.

I.

Slowly stroked the seat where the person named Henry Lee would have sat.

“That day. When rain poured as if a hole was pierced in the sky... when waves rose as high as a bell tower and the sails were all torn by the wind.”

The club people who were looking at us as if admirable adjusted their posture, and hyung and noona also looked at me with swollen eyes.

“Father said at the last moment. A gentleman must remain composed until the end.

So I... will act composedly, like a gentleman.”

Who wouldn’t be moved and just leave when a child of ten-something is gritting his teeth saying ‘I won’t cry. I am a gentleman.’?

- You bastard. Your eyes are swollen and puffy?

Be quiet, this miscellaneous ghost. It’s all for atmosphere setting. Would I who have eaten enough years cry like an owl crying my heart out over something like this.

Our three siblings’ sniffling continued for a long time.

And of course the events of this day spread widely throughout London once again.

***

I had to part from hyung and noona not long after. Because both of them attend boarding school.

Next is the problem of my whereabouts.

“Arthur-ya. Won’t you live at uncle’s house?”

“What are you saying! How is our house?”

“Originally that kid was promised with Henry to stay at our house! I’ll take him!”

“You were reluctant, weren’t you. Rather I-”

This is a big problem.

- What is?

Distinguishing who will help me truly without ulterior motives... is too hard.

If I were a simple child there would be no need to go complicated. Just someone who will send me to Eton College is enough.

But I have to prepare to go to Eton, and at the same time raise my body price as much as possible.

- Let’s ask once. What on earth are you thinking?

Right.

Shall I organize once.

To summarize simply, my role model is <​Cecil Rhodes>.

An imperialist who achieved enormous wealth as a diamond tycoon, entered politics based on that financial power, and contributed to the expansion of the British Empire.

- You’re going to become a guy who quacks shouting war and expansion? Really?

No, it’s just an example.

The weapons I have now are future knowledge, the temporary fame of ‘the surviving child’, and the Neo-Confucian knowledge forcibly injected in Joseon and the minor friendship built with Joseon power holders. Take that away and I’m just a child who lost parents early.

- There are quite a few... but when asked what to do with this it’s ambiguous.

Right.

If our final goal is to eat the British Prime Minister seat then I have to enter politics, right?

But probably entering politics will also split into two branches. Do politics by burning my own money, or do politics by receiving someone’s sponsorship.

I don’t want the latter. There are too many constraints.

Quickly make a fortune at a young age, no, create one conglomerate group and then do politics... to get the power capable of changing history in hand.

- You have to make that fuss? To become Prime Minister?

Whether Britain or Japan, there are too many cases where prime ministers of the cabinet system rather collapse themselves while trying to push one policy, hard to even count. The possibility of me getting cut from the prime minister or member position while trying to overturn history would be higher? I think you need to be about a conglomerate prime minister to even try.

- Right. I roughly understand. So to steadily implement policies, even if not prime minister, one’s own weight class has to be tremendous, that is.

Finally understood.

- Then now the next question. How are you going to make money?

Of course by utilizing talent and aptitude.

Far East trade.

Wouldn’t it be fine to clearly show that this body is the person who can max out Far East trade profits. Show the power of a 21st century salesman to British people who are stupid and sell opium and start wars when things go wrong.

Enter a prestigious school like Eton or Harrow and get school connections.

And widely inform that I am a Far East expert and attract as much investment as possible.

Once I draw one ship and just go to Joseon or China I have confidence to make money. So invest! is what it is. Wouldn’t even our young Heonjong willingly open Joseon’s doors if he sees me?

- That, right? I don’t know the human world well...

I even rode a piggyback on the king’s shoulders so of course he’ll open it. He’ll say welcome! and sell red ginseng and cheongsimhwan and gold and silver treasures all at cheap prices for sure. Originally friendship when young is eternal.

- What if he doesn’t?

There’s no way.

It’s not just one or two people I’m close to.

Not only the king but how solid a relationship I built with the Andong Kim clan. Plus the terrifying Neo-Confucian monsters, and even Heungseon Daewongun gave me a gat. This is definite physical evidence that Lee Ha-eung entrusted a new era to me.

- Still if Joseon just endures without unlocking the closed country... you go bankrupt, right?

Then...

Then...

Holding back tears.

Really unavoidably.

Shouldn’t I guide a friend who is going astray, even by hitting, onto the right path, the path of civilization enlightenment and free trade.

Right. This is correct.

If a balls friend suddenly says ‘want a hit of weed?’ of course you beat him and block him from doing such a thing again, that’s true friendship, ignoring or smoking together is wrong friendship. Even in the Neo-Confucianism I learned it was well written what is the proper conduct of a scholar!

- Wait a minute. Wait wait. Something the flow of thought is falling in a strange direction.

Anyway Joseon that thing, if left alone it’s a fate to become a Japanese colony.

This 21st century Confucian warrior Park In-ho.

If it’s to rescue Joseon from a miserable future I will hold back tears and endure even minor notoriety.

Joseon people!

I’ll save you!!

- Originally he wasn’t this kind of kid, is it that British blood circulated and he became strange?

Be quiet.

It’s because you short-sold with my soul that it became like this so it’s not my fault.

***

As repeatedly said, British people didn’t know much about the Far East centered on China.

However Britain is Britain.

They had a vigorous desire for knowledge, and an overflowing aspiration to explore what they don’t know. Isn’t this aspiration the real energy that opened modernity?

Because of that.

Receiving an invitation from the Royal Asiatic Society less than a week after I came to London was truly a natural thing.

“Hello, I am Arthur Lee.”

“Welcome, kid. Is it your first time at the society?”

“Yes! It’s super amazing!”

The name is Asiatic Society but most of their research was concentrated on India. Since India is the core interest zone where Britain’s life and death is at stake right away, it’s an obvious story.

In this situation where even China experts are not that many.

Joseon expert?

No way.

“The reason we called you is because there are things we’re curious about regarding China and Joseon.”

“Although it was a very hard time for you, we thought that if we organize your experiences well our knowledge would become much broader. If it’s okay, won’t you tell us the things you saw and heard?”

The society people seemed to want to hear my drift story.

Well, thinking about my journey, it is a bit nonsensical.

Knowing it would be like this I took out the items I prepared in advance, the writing tools and various books that were inside the luggage bundle the Joseon people prepared.

“Hoo. Ink and brush.”

“Did you perhaps receive them from Chinese Confucian scholars?”

“I studied Confucianism for several years from Joseon’s best Confucian scholars.”

“Really?”

Look at that expression.

It’s that expression of when hearing a child’s words, not believing but forcing a pleased smile to protect the childlike heart. When I spouted Western stories the Joseon guys all had that face.

Somehow as a kid’s body reciprocating the edges of East and West, it seemed there was no escaping that damned expression.

But it’s okay.

Where, from whom did I learn Confucianism.

A body that received intensive mark education from the best Confucian scholars of Little China Joseon. If compared to the learning of queue barbarians, Joseon’s Neo-Confucianism can be said to be close to the highest dignity by far.

- That just seems because you studied in Joseon...

What are you saying. Would the learning level of Qing that whenever bored does literary inquisition or whatever and catches fault with one character and runs a great purge get high?

Anyway even if called China experts most are missionaries and a minority of trader origins.

I will clearly show what real Confucianism is.

***

Around just before dinner time.

“Th-this is!”

“Did you really study all those many classics?”

“Shouldn’t we call Professor Kid (Samuel Kidd) right away? Is he at London University?”

“No. He retired. Probably living in Camden. Is there no one outside?!”

“Sit down. Then perhaps this-”

The society members no longer had interest in my drift experience story.

“Perhaps, can I enter Eton? Dad said I must enter Eton...”

“Right. Don’t worry. Don’t care about such minor things and-”

“Rather how about going straight to university?!”

Hehe.

Really easy.

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