Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Happy Stone

In any country.

Politics is truly complicated.

This could not be an exception for William Gladstone, the rising new star of the Conservative Party.

Born as the son of a rich family that possessed an enormously large sugar plantation farm on the Caribbean side, the young Gladstone rode the typical elite tech tree of Eton - Oxford, stood out even within Oxford, and entered the House of Commons.

Next he stood at the forefront of opposing the Opium War and poured fierce criticism and made his name known throughout the country.

[I have never heard of a war as immoral as this war, a war that will take away Britain’s honor.]

[The victory and gain of this war are certain. However no matter how great the gain, it cannot be compared to the loss of honor and prestige that the British Empire will suffer.]

[Why does our heart pound when we see the national flag? Because our national flag has always fluttered for the side of justice, the enemy of oppression, the glory of the nation, fair commerce.

But now thanks to Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston our national flag is fluttering to protect opium smugglers. Our flag has been defiled!]

The literary name <​Opium War> being attached to the 1841 Britain-Qing war originated from Gladstone’s speech, so it was not strange that his name literally spread throughout Britain and the whole world.

It was also not strange that he who became famous through the Opium War did not meet the boy who returned alive from that distant Chinese land.

As soon as he heard the rumor about ‘the surviving child’ he immediately sent a letter, and on the other hand collected rumors about that child.

But what on earth is the problem.

Is it because this yellow press got involved, when synthesizing the rumors it looked too bizarre and had no credibility at all.

[Reads books before even turning one]

[Understands the Bible at three]

[Learns Latin at five]

[Learns Chinese, Joseon language, Chinese characters and local Confucianism while going through China and Joseon at seven]

I know he’s a clever child but isn’t it too vain a story? How shameless is this country’s press that they are busy selling newspapers while pounding the mill with a boy who lost his parents like this?

And finally today.

Gladstone set foot in a guest room of a club where Arthur Lee is staying.

“Hello, Member. Nice to meet you for the first time.”

“Oh my. There’s no need to observe propriety so much.”

“Please give me the hat and coat.”

While the boy moved with short steps, Gladstone carefully scanned this guest room that he didn’t know if it was enough for one child to live but objectively not that wide.

‘Curious.’

This was his first feeling.

On one wall hung a painting that felt full of Oriental beauty.

He doesn’t have particular knowledge of Oriental art, but this painting that seemed vigorously drawn with only black ink was very difficult yet fresh. Adding the Chinese characters written in the blank space and the red stamped seal, it was full of exotic flavor.

Once the curiosity of this place became visible to the eyes, new things caught the eye here and there.

On the desk Western-style pens and books, and Oriental-style brushes and luxurious-looking stones, plus Oriental-style books and British newspapers were neatly equipped.

The closet was the same. Rather than other ordinary clothes, the gaze going to the black lid-shaped hat overflowing with exotic flavor was unavoidable.

Gladstone thought absentmindedly.

The boy spent about half of his short life in an unfamiliar world, the Far East.

Then is this boy closer to a British person, or closer to a Chinese person?

“May I offer some tea?”

“Oh, my goodness. Thank you.”

The boy took out a tea set and brewed tea. This time too it was an object that looked certain to have been brought from China or Joseon.

After savoring the aroma and taste of the tea for a moment he slowly brought up the business.

“Even after going through all sorts of harsh hardships at a young age you are so composed. Admirable.”

“The deceased father told me to become a gentleman. I always have to become dignified.”

“Right. The late father who is looking down from heaven will surely be proud too.”

Just bringing up only business from the start is that much not gentlemanly.

Gladstone conveyed sufficient compliments so the child’s feelings wouldn’t be hurt, and only after saying once more that the tea was very delicious did he properly bring up his business.

“Perhaps you might know, uncle greatly opposed the war with China that happened this time.”

“Yes. I also saw the newspaper article. They say this war is <​Opium War>?”

“Right. It was a very terrible and immoral war... my ability was lacking so I couldn’t stop it.”

He wielded his appealing voice and speech ability polished from long ago for a single audience.

“Hearing the story that you returned safely I thought a lot. You said you didn’t receive bad treatment there, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I received a lot of help and overall it wasn’t bad.”

“But would we Christians, Europeans have done this if a Chinese person washed up... I was doubtful of that.”

Hypocrites who only talk about the Lord or morality with their mouths.

On the other hand barbarians who don’t know the Lord’s teaching but are endlessly noble.

The living physical evidence of this irony that Gladstone so cried out appeared.

“Since we won the war, the harm that these vicious humans of Europe will inflict on those pitiful Asians from now on will become much bigger. I think if we all freely trade we of course and even those Asians will become happy, but if opium smuggler bastards run wild now and say free trade or whatever... won’t those country’s people become pitiful?”

“If those innocent people suffer damage it seems too heartbreaking.”

It was as he intended.

That child’s kind heart and sympathy were moving.

“So, can you help so bad people don’t harass China?”

“Is there something I can do?”

“Of course. Of course.”

“What kind of thing can I do?”

“For example you could string together the things you experienced into one book. If you widely inform their kind character and customs and accuse the harm Europeans commit, all sensible British people will support us.”

Free trade is right.

But opium smuggling is not the object of that ‘freedom’.

Right now public opinion is dominant that they refreshingly showed the arrogant chinks their place, but if one can only create a sympathetic atmosphere toward them wouldn’t it be enough to change the board?

But unexpectedly.

The boy shook his head.

“Sorry. It seems a bit difficult.”

“Huh...? Why is that?”

“I’m too busy.”

The boy stretched out his small arms.

“Dad said when I grow up I must go to Eton or Harrow.”

“There’s no need to go to a human scum neighborhood like Harrow. Eton is enough.”

The holy bone among holy bones who came from Eton - Oxford answered reflexively.

“Yes, I also want to go to Eton! But they say to go to Eton you need a lot of money.”

“Don’t worry. That’s sponsorship-”

“So right now I’m translating Chinese character books into English. They said if I do this they’ll give a lot of money. And if the books I translated become many later the university will take me.”

Translation?

Gladstone alternately looked at the Chinese characters written crookedly with a brush, and the English written in another book.

“This... not studying but you are translating?”

“Yes, that’s right. I saw the translations other uncles did and they were too strange so I’ll do it again. But if I do this it seems there won’t be enough time to write the book you mentioned.”

“Translating academic books would surely be a very cool thing. But you know, while you translate academic books China and Joseon who showed you favor might suffer great pain.”

Shall I appeal a bit more to the boy’s sympathy, or poke a bit more at the tuition part for going to Eton.

While the young member of the House of Commons fitted the equation this way and that in his head.

The boy nodded.

“I will write <​Arthur’s Drift Record> someday. But not now.”

“Why?”

“Because I need it when I set sail for Joseon again.”

“You need that book then? Ah, to show to Far East people?”

“No. I have to receive investment with that book and draw a merchant ship.”

Gladstone blinked his eyes for a moment.

The boy was already sitting a bit more... impudently crooked.

“If free trade spreads to Joseon already from now, there’s nothing for me to eat, right?”

An illusion of a fighter inside the boy’s body throwing a glove toward him flickered.

It was a feeling of being possessed by a ghost.

***

21st century people are so civilized that they sometimes mistakenly think the 19th century might have been a similar civilization level.

But looking at the appearance of selling opium or tomb raiding groups shamelessly claiming ‘archaeology’, their civilization is roughly only at the level of Planet of the Apes apes.

For example let’s look at this living conscience of the British Empire, Mr. Gladstone.

This person has a lot of money.

How much, about 10 years ago when slavery was abolished in the British Empire, Gladstone’s dad was one of <​the people who possessed the most slaves in Britain>, and they say he had about 2,500 black slaves.

How expensive movable property (since it has feet it’s not real estate) slaves are can be well known just by looking at Joseon. Literally a movable property tycoon.

- But they say slavery is abolished now?

How would a civilized country like Britain dare do the vicious act of state power intervening in an individual’s property. Of course the country bought them with money.

And in that empty place they say they hired Indian ‘workers’. I didn’t look into it in detail but how fantastic the treatment of those workers is is clear without looking, clear.

If Gladstone’s conscience was a 21st century standard conscience, whether slavery or the deformed version of slavery debt slavery all would have caused seizures, but to 19th century conscience debt slavery seemed okay. What can one expect in this era.

As expected the only one who can save Joseon is me.

I have to eat the governor-general so I can block the future where Joseon people fill meals with three cups of black tea and get ground in factories for 18 hours...!

- You bastard, now you’re openly saying governor-general?

Hmm hmm. It’s a misunderstanding. Please call it ‘advisor who spreads Western knowledge’.

“I received education in the same place as Joseon’s young king. There will be some difference from Britain’s, but at least knowledge and learning for ruling and managing the country are in my head to some extent.”

“Really? Is that why... ha.”

Even though I startled him he showed signs of recovering quickly. Darn. It would have been easier if he was more dazed, as expected a big shot is a big shot from the sprout days.

“Then there’s no need for me to treat you too much like a child.”

“That’s right.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“First put me in Eton.”

“I’ll think of that as small change. It’s compensation for surprising me. And?”

- Cool?

He wants to get entangled in his own school connections on his own so he probably didn’t particularly want to ruin the mood. He’ll probably want to leave that as a subtle debt of the heart someday.

“Please make sure other flies don’t flock to Joseon until I become an adult.”

“I want to hear a bit more in detail.”

“Joseon is a very closed country. Unless starting another war it absolutely won’t be easy to open the doors.”

But I am confident.

I didn’t particularly say the latter part. Because it looks lacking.

“Keep it for me?”

“Wouldn’t it help national interest to avoid the lock breaking while forcibly trying to open when there is a key?”

“But, what help does opening the doors there give to our British Empire’s national interest?”

“Not anyone else but you Member are asking that? Didn’t you preach the uselessness of wars without justification?”

Get hit with some tai chi with the reputation you boasted so much.

Unless great pirates who think breaking into someone else’s house and extorting is gain anyway, Gladstone who went around shouting that one mustn’t act like a gangster like that must not weigh the gains and losses of opening Joseon. Doing so would become a confession that he himself is the same pirate if the wrapping is removed.

“It seems something beyond my ability. Something else?”

“Please invest a bit.”

“Invest... ”

“Joseon trade. I have confidence to succeed. What products will work there and what to bring is clear in my eyes.”

He pondered for a moment.

Then gulped the already completely cooled tea.

“Now that I see you were a tiger cub.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Do you have thoughts of entering politics?”

The answer I was waiting for came out.

I immediately recited the answer I had prepared for a long time in my head.

“After firmly solidifying the reputation of the best Far East expert.”

Gladstone held out his hand.

I clasped it.

The deal was concluded.

© 명원 #1jwz2

Author's note

Thank you to Time Flight for your sponsorship!!