Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Debut Match (2)

The French army’s dispatch met an unexpected ambush.

“Moroccans plundered our republic’s ship!”

“One must immediately show those blackies their place!”

A fact learned later, they say one French merchant ship overturned at a certain port in Morocco and received rescue.

But some crowds plundered a bit the cargo salvaged from the merchant ship and loaded in the warehouse, and with this they threatened that if they don’t compensate as much as the price of the robbed cargo they will make the port a sea of fire.

Even without particularly considering that Morocco is suffering from drought and bad harvest for the 6th year now, really at this extent the delusion of baguette friends is truly terrifying beyond measure.

- You? Is it okay for you to say those words with your mouth?

I am in the middle of a lonely struggle to liberate Joseon from Japanese colony, right. At this extent it would not be strange to attach the modifier ‘holy’. Bishop Imbert would also be cheering me from heaven.

Honestly if one rescues people that’s enough, wouldn’t I be much more trustworthy than a country person who starts war because someone salvaged a bit of cargo that fell into the water?

- Ah... yes, I see. Has the end of the human era really arrived. With this body I can’t spit.

Anyway burning Morocco, resolving political whatever etc. France’s dispatch was a bit delayed. Above all unlike the British army that can dispatch by extracting troops from India French guys have to come from the home country.

But Americans appeared at the speed of light.

Faster than France that wants to screw Britain. It was a part where one can know how urgent these guys were.

“I am John Aulick (John Henry Aulick) in charge of the squadron commander of the United States Navy East India Squadron.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Arthur Lee.”

“<​The surviving child>?”

“...That book was transmitted to America too?”

I haven’t published in America yet?

“Haha. Yes. If one didn’t read that book one is not a sailor! The hardships one can experience at sea! Tenacity! That masculinity and tenacity of persistently seeking survival even while tearing fish and grabbing sea turtles is truly the life of a sailor resisting that terrifying sea, right!”

As expected because they are guys living in the primitive new continent they don’t even know the importance of copyright law.

I don’t do the stupid act of informing them why copying is a bad thing. Because originally Americans believe that if one steals it is now mine so why give money is the national rule. Pirate-like hideous acts are not contained in Anglo-Saxon blood, probably this is all because French blood is mixed.

This amazing principle also applies to state affairs.

“Our East India Squadron will immediately head to Ryukyu and implement gunboat diplomacy, and subsequently advance to Edo the capital of Japan and block major waterways and demand opening.”

“What if war breaks out like that?”

“I received permission from the President that one may make Edo a sea of fire.”

Look at the fire rising in the eyes a bit. Ugh. Just looking makes it hot hot that one will get burned.

The fact that a person about squadron commander level associated with me even briefly was only due to courtesy, and private curiosity and I immediately switched with the next person.

“Finally met. It is hard to see the face.”

“Teacher Williams. We only exchanged letters in the meantime but now greeting like this.”

Samuel Williams (Samuel Wells Williams).

American missionary and journalist.

A person who crossed from New York to China at the amazing age of twenty-one and devoted to missionary activities, a person doing various activities such as making a Chinese-English dictionary.

“The various books and dictionaries Mr. Lee authored are truly like treasures in understanding China. Please take care of me well in the future too.”

“I should say I ask for more care.”

“Come. This is the letter we will send to the Edo government. I want to ask a bit if there is wrong Chinese characters.”

Of course it is not an official document.

Japan has people who can do Dutch because they exchanged with the Netherlands for quite a long time, and America also has Dutch immigrants so the exchange with Japan was planned to proceed in Dutch. If so there will be no matter of later talking nonsense saying the language was wrong.

However just in case, and for smooth opening one attaches letters urging opening to influential people of the Japanese government even in individual names.

“Perhaps can I also send my letter together?”

“Although Japanese people closed the doors they would have heard Arthur Lee’s name long ago. If you give a letter I will willingly enclose it.”

America has not yet declared war on Qing, but in the near future for developing the Chinese market they will probably declare war.

If Americans succeed in opening Japan Britain will also immediately follow and demand a trade treaty second. A kind of fast follower strategy.

In the meantime we.

Just need to open Joseon.

Not long after the US Navy East India Squadron sortied toward Ryukyu.

I boarded the British Empire Royal Navy’s steam paddle steamer HMS Barracouta and departed for Hanyang.

***

Summer of 1851.

The British Empire that captured Guangzhou and raised momentum immediately led the fleet and went north.

Headed to Joseon.

“The west sea of Joseon also called the Yellow Sea has extremely severe tides, at low tide one island appears and at high tide it disappears.”

“This country’s coastline... is truly terrible.”

British captains while acting sharply wary of the fear that in a moment of carelessness they might run aground like French guys and get dog disgraced and their career ends carefully went north.

But Joseon people seeing the huge ships with black hulls, spouting pitch-black smoke from the chimney and even water wheels attached on one side were astonished to the point of feeling the sky collapsing.

“What is that.”

“My goodness.”

“Monster! Monster ship!! A monster ship appeared!!”

If a Western ship appeared in one’s jurisdiction the county magistrates must first go forward and perform questioning.

But the appearance of several monster warships instantly devastated the Joseon countryside.

“You stupid guys! That is Britain’s ship! That flag! Isn’t it the thing called the national flag that British people hang and go around!”

“M-magistrate sir.”

“Prepare the ship!! Quickly!!”

“Because everyone fled in panic there is no one to steer the ship.”

This much is yangban, and there were also places where even the magistrate joined the evacuation path and ran away saying feet save me.

From the beginning now is the period of that infamous sedo politics.

Nine out of ten county magistrates are dog flowers who bought the magistrate appointment with money so fleeing to protect the life more precious than the principal is truly a natural thing, right.

Rumors spread in all directions much faster than the northward advance of the steamship fleet, so by the time the rumor spread to Chungcheong Province ‘a Westerner fleet that lit the chimney came’ had already changed to ‘Western barbarians do killing and burning as if eating rice so flames soared even from the ship. Now the country is ruined!’ like filming a family entertainment hall.

The public sentiment of Chungcheong Province that was already messed up from flood literally crumbled, and the speed of refugees floundering was faster than the speed of messengers running to Hanyang.

“The time has come!”

“It is a sign that Joseon will perish!”

“According to Jeonggamrok Jeong Doryeong appears and establishes the capital at Gyeryong Mountain, since Westerners come by sea establishing the capital in the mountain was truly a natural principle!”

Apocalypse theorists.

Social malcontents.

Even farmers angry from exploitation.

All of them listened to rumors more than any other time wondering if the time has come.

After the British Empire fleet that scorched the three southern provinces with one rumor like that arrived leisurely at Ganghwa Island, the envoy group with Arthur Lee as leader headed to Hanyang again.

***

Third Hanyang trip.

First as a drifter.

Second as a merchant.

This time as a diplomat.

What status will I come with on the next Hanyang trip.

I went forward to the main hall.

Without bowing I only deeply lowered my head.

“What rudeness is this!”

“Previously I came in personal capacity so I willingly offered a bow as a guest.

But the current me came as the chief envoy of the envoy representing the British Empire, and in the British Empire and its surrounding countries bowing is something only slaves offer to the master. Truly sorry to say, but please understand our customs.”

“Well said! A guest should follow the propriety of the host house how do you argue your proprieties?!”

“Stop it.”

At the order of the king who was no longer young, Heonjong the ministers closed their mouths.

“Lee Arthur the chief envoy of the Joseon envoy group appointed by the British Empire Foreign Office pays respects to His Majesty the King of Joseon.”

British Empire.

Lee Arthur.

Not Britain.

Not Lee Aseul.

According to the Middle Kingdom order only the Son of Heaven country can use a single character country name. That is why when Joseon which was a kingdom claimed empire it changed the country name to Han and proclaimed the Korean Empire.

The moment hearing the country name British Empire all Joseon people filling this place would have intuited.

The fact that we no longer play along with that arrogant order of China.

After delivering the state letter, I immediately put strength in the shoulders and straightened the waist stiffly.

“Coming all the way to this distant place from distant Britain must have been a lot of hardship. Even though you would know well the fact that we are a vassal of Qing and do not recklessly communicate with other countries why did you recklessly send an envoy?”

I don’t play with the trivial Minister of Rites.

The current me is a body representing Her Majesty the Queen and that cabinet.

“Sorry to say, not long ago the British Empire entered a state of war with Qing and captured Guangzhou.”

“···!”

“The will of the British Empire is firm, and unlike the last war we will definitely subdue Qing.”

“Truly regrettable. For what reason did the two countries reach the terrible conclusion of war?”

From now it starts.

I naturally glanced over the ministers and opened my mouth.

“China always called themselves the center of the world so called themselves the middle country, and called all countries not included in China barbarians.

But the land where the British Empire and its neighboring countries are, Europe is a place where there was a Son of Heaven country called Great Qin, in our words Rome from the time when Han existed long ago and its civilization and origin never lagged behind the Central Plains.”

Some quick-witted ones began to sweat cold sweat. They would have caught what words would follow.

I paid attention to them and continued the words again.

“After Great Qin perished the various countries of Europe contended with each other like the Spring and Autumn Warring States, but finally reached one principle. That as long as they despise each other as barbarians they can never escape from war.

Although privately they still despise people of neighboring countries or scold bad customs, they no longer openly despise other countries as barbarians so finally peace arrived in Europe.

But Qing until the last moment called us barbarians and did not accept European countries equally and committed insults.”

Denial of the Middle Kingdom order.

“As this Lee Arthur learned receiving teaching in this land, Joseon is a gentleman country where the light of civilization has never gone out even for a moment since Gija came east and spread rites and music.

On the other hand Qing is a country established by barbaric Jurchen barbarians violating and trampling the Middle Kingdom, lawless and cruel beyond measure so the entire Jiangnan is covered with the flames of rebellion. But why does one say Qing is civilized people and Joseon is barbarians? How is this a proper principle of heaven?”

Although one cannot bear to cut the words, now except for only the most stupid few everyone seemed to know the words that would come after.

I decided to willingly join their prediction.

“If the fleet of our British Empire just approaches closely the Qing army is busy abandoning weapons and armor and running away. This is an opportunity heaven gave, so the British Empire government respectfully recommends that the Joseon Kingdom join this war and become independent from Qing.”

Let’s do war together!

There was no answer.

Only terrible silence spread.

“However, the point that friendly good neighbor relations between the British Empire and the Joseon Kingdom are not deep so one might hesitate is already kept in mind by the wise leaders of the empire cabinet.

If doing war with Qing is too sudden a proposal, instead if one concludes a treaty and proclaims the friendly good neighbor between the British Empire and the Joseon Kingdom to the whole world, and also declares that one will not participate in the war taking Qing’s side in this war the British Empire will never forget Joseon’s favor.”

This is the core.

Friendly trade treaty and neutrality declaration.

If one exchanges with other countries and concludes a treaty without Qing’s permission this denies Joseon’s traditional serving the great relationship, and if one declares neutrality one can immediately send a copy to Beijing and tea bag ‘your number one country Joseon also abandoned you’.

British Empire navy officers who have only blood and slaughter in their heads said cloud-catching sounds that it would be good if one receives supply from Joseon but it is just a thick-headed idea.

Joseon... Joseon is a beggar country that doesn’t even have the economic power to supply.

- Still isn’t food or something okay?

Would it work. At best rice but if one gives rice to British people will they eat well.

No wood either. No gunpowder either. No shipyard either. Even food is not compatible.

Since there is nothing to receive from Joseon the answer is just neutrality declaration.

Come. Now Joseon’s next movement-

“After taking in lawless barbarians and even bestowing teaching truly arrogant beyond measure!!”

A resounding voice.

There was one who had sweat drops forming on the forehead but anyway pointed hard at me.

“Lee Aseul you this bastard!! Daring to bring military force and threaten the king and ministers! How would Joseon that knows rites and propriety yield to your miserable immorality!”

Kim Jwageun immediately prostrated toward the king.

“Immediately cut their necks and send an envoy to Qing together with the heads! Westerners are ones who do not know propriety so one must not respond to any request!!”

Hmm.

As expected freeloading from the start is too much.

If they were going to yield at this extent the Byeongin Yangyo or Shinmi Yangyo wouldn’t have happened either.

“Does it mean not considering even neutrality let alone friendship?”

“As expected barbarians are barbarians! One who learned the propriety of Confucius and Mencius only does forced interpretations so how would a monkey become a person just because it knows how to speak!”

“Stop! Envoys withdraw! Give them a guest house and strictly crack down so there are no ones who harm them!”

I bowed my head and greeted once more then slowly withdrew from the seat.

The next procedure is... writing a declaration of war.

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Author's note

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