Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Debut Match (3)

Border Defense Council.

If one interprets the name it is a government office that prepares for border affairs.

Originally it was a temporary organization that operated during big things like war, but now hundreds of years later the Border Defense Council has pushed aside even the Six Ministries and the State Council and established itself as the highest organization practically ruling Joseon.

And now.

The Border Defense Council meeting was no different from a flea market.

“War.”

“One must immediately check the defense posture of Ganghwa Island and prepare for war.”

“Just in case one must prepare for royal flight-”

“Royal flight! Are you crazy?!”

Kim Jwageun ground his teeth and glared at the faces of those sitting one by one.

Chief State Councillor Jeong Wonyong, Left State Councillor Kim Heunggeun, Right State Councillor Kim Dohui, Minister of Personnel Jo Dusun, Pungyang Jo clan’s Jo Inyeong and Jo Byeonghyeon etc.

The king whose head has now grown quite thick was poking the Andong Kim clan and dreaming of strengthening royal authority.

Even so even though if the king sets his mind they are in a situation of getting fucked together, those stupid Pungyang Jo clan bastards were busy biting the Andong Kim clan instead of joining hands and preventing the young king from not overcoming childishness and doing nonsense. It was a crazy jumping thing.

“One must immediately summon all the navy, and gather the northern army.”

“War hasn’t even broken out yet right?”

“If one prepares in a hurry after war breaks out it’s late! Are you picking fault even with this obvious words? At this time?”

“Then I will ask the opposite. If Britain invades where on earth will they come?”

Where?

Of course-

“They will come to Ganghwa Island!”

“If we repair the castle on Ganghwa Island and gather the army will the enemies bang their heads on that castle, are you sincerely claiming that? If I were a British barbarian I would immediately make the three southern provinces ruins and commit plunder as soon as I see Ganghwa Island’s battle posture.”

“If upper and lower become one and firmly protect the court one can protect the ancestral temples and altars, but the people will definitely become as devastated as the Imjin year. War must not happen!”

“······.”

Now I understand.

These guys.

Everyone is full of other thoughts.

“Anyway Qing are barbarians who invaded us in the Injo period, and our Joseon as Little China has never forgotten the resentment of the Chongzhen Emperor even for a moment. Why would one earn the resentment of Britain that has no particular connection by keeping loyalty to Qing?”

“Yes. Unless Qing says they will protect us, they will also definitely acknowledge our situation.”

There is no way those who came up to here have no sense of reality in their heads.

What they first recalled was hundreds of years ago, the Ming-Qing transition period.

Wasn’t the result of trying to repay the grace of re-creation to Ming at that time two times of barbarian invasions and the humiliation of Samjeondo?

Qing did not bestow grace as great as Ming, and there was no one with a loose screw who wanted to endure even war for the queue Jurchens.

“If the end of the Qing dynasty has arrived.”

The one who uttered these words that give goosebumps just from hearing was Jo Byeonghyeon.

The political opponent Kim Jwageun very much wanted to cut the neck of, the one whose teeth grind the most even among the Pungyang Jo clan.

“In the Confucian scholars talk about the northern expedition will definitely come out.”

“Crazy sound!”

It is a fact even a three-year-old knows that Joseon has no proper army so what northern expedition.

“But it is certain that disturbances will break out from all directions. Aren’t there ones who don’t know reality anywhere.”

“If there are such guys just send them to Yanjing.”

“No matter how much we shout the ‘neutrality’ they talk about Qing will not look at it prettily. Whoever wins the war, isn’t it obvious Qing will pick a fight with our Joseon in some way to establish their lost prestige?”

“So, doing nonsense northern expedition talk? Not in one’s right mind.”

“I am speaking of reality.”

“If Britain wins do you think you will be safe? It was you who caught and killed all the heretics!”

Yes.

Kim Jwageun had a corner he believed in.

‘Anyway the Jo family bastards can absolutely not board the same boat as Westerners.’

But the face of Jo Byeonghyeon who should flinch from being stabbed in the Achilles heel did not shake even a single hair.

“Didn’t you say the heretics we eradicated are all French old religion believers. According to what I investigated the Jesus religion Westerners believe is divided into old religion and new religion factions, the lawless and fatherless heretics who ban ancestral rites are only the old religion and the new religion is not so. Since Britain believes in the new religion aren’t they ones who at least know minimal propriety?”

“······.”

Asking since when you became proficient in that heresy doctrine is too shabby a thing.

This was troublesome.

Too troublesome.

The Andong Kim clan was maintaining that power by seizing state affairs through the Border Defense Council and privatizing military authority.

But if war really breaks out the young king will not miss this opportunity and recover all power into his hands. The emergency situation of war easily makes all that.

Joseon had to perform a tightrope walking feat on a single log bridge against the two countries of Britain and Qing. The fate of falling to death from a cliff the moment one missteps even once.

And this feat was indispensable to continue the glory of the Andong Kim clan.

Crisis even if Britain wins.

Crisis even if Qing wins.

Crisis even if defeated Qing gets angry and retaliates.

Crisis even if defeated Britain causes trouble.

The probability that currently ruling Kim Jwageun and the Andong Kim clan safely escape the responsibility controversy was too slim, but nevertheless he was desperately seeking a way out.

The only escape route he recalled.

Becoming a war advocate himself.

Without unnecessarily bothering the king he becomes the supreme commander and leads the war.

While doing this perfectly do diplomatic coordination so war does not break out...!

On this day’s Border Defense Council lowering vigilance to various places across the country, recruiting northern hunters to prepare for a fight that might exist.

And calling all those who have connections with Lee Aseul to Hanyang and continuing a bit more smooth dialogue.

However.

“No matter how excellent Britain’s skills are, we are also a country that overcame the Japanese invasion and barbarian invasion. If they recklessly invade this country’s territory they also won’t be able to leave with limbs intact!”

If one grits teeth and fights one round can’t one break one or two arms and legs of those barbarians?

In the end they could not cross the limit inside the well.

***

“It’s been a while, Aseul-ah.”

“Have you been well in the meantime?”

“Now thanks to you I can’t be well!”

Kim Byeonggi openly scolded me and lifted the cup.

“How would one mix personal feelings while doing state affairs?”

But I instead of laughing hehe and chiming in there immediately made a serious face and ruined the atmosphere.

“Hey, Aseul. Even so the order of elder and younger-”

“Not just state affairs, I came to negotiate over a war where countless people will shed blood. How can one laugh and chatter in this situation? Let alone the order of elder and younger? If the chief envoy of the envoy group was an eighty-year-old elder would you have accepted our demands? Because one must respect the elderly?”

Scolding a person decades older than me was not very pleasant, but anyway since they are Andong Kim clan people who suck the people’s blood and do harsh exploitation, right?

Arthur Lee who came across the sea to realize justice admonishing corrupt officials is an extremely right path. Even if Confucius or Song Siyeol came back alive they would have hung a flower necklace with applause saying I am doing a truly admirable thing.

They are guys with no value to particularly respect.

Guys one has no need to feel a prick of conscience whether ripping off or steaming.

If one lines up people who want to tear their limbs in this Joseon the line will definitely continue outside the Hanyang city walls.

- Trying hard trying. Wasn’t the face skin already thick?

This is not patriotism of the previous life or something but the last conscience one must have as a 21st century person. If I shoot cannons and stage a self-made play like a century diplomat and then start war what is different from those people?

“The British Empire destroyed India and stood tall as the strongest country in the world, no, in this world. Even the Jurchens who were only a handful long ago destroyed Ming and seized the mandate of heaven, so the British Empire that is already the world’s strongest destroying Qing is too easy a thing.”

“Stop the bluff.”

“It’s not bluff but fact.”

Kim Byeonggi glared at me and moved his gaze to his trembling hand.

“Do you want to destroy this country Joseon so much? If it’s not trying to destroy Joseon please try something we can accept. You know well about Joseon, right?”

“Why do you keep beating around the bush.”

I paid attention to his appearance of quietly hiding his hand.

“Isn’t it that you are more curious about the way the Andong Kim clan does not perish?”

“...Yes. I won’t deny it. So please lend a bit the wisdom coming from that clever head.”

Now the posture to listen has been made.

I conveyed the conception I prepared in advance to him.

“Declare to the whole world that Joseon is an independent country not a vassal of Qing and conclude a friendly trade treaty, no, a mutual defense treaty with Britain.”

“What is the difference between the two?”

“A friendly trade treaty is a treaty where two countries form friendship and implement mutual trade, and a mutual defense treaty is swearing that if one country gets involved in war the other country automatically participates as an ally. If the British Empire declares it will protect your country Qing also won’t be able to touch Joseon recklessly.”

“Isn’t that just the suzerain changing from Qing to Britain.”

“Hasn’t Joseon always been like that? But since a mutual defense treaty is not becoming a vassal Joseon can freely do diplomacy with other countries.”

“Is that all? Take Britain’s side?”

“According to European style diplomatic relations, countries in friendly relations station plenipotentiary envoys in each other’s capitals.”

What would be the words Kim Byeonggi most wants to hear.

Isn’t it the way to save Kim Jwageun.

“Appoint His Excellency Haok as ambassador to Britain and send him to Britain. Since it is taking responsibility as a great elder of the country he won’t die at this extent.”

“At the point of hearing the sound of ruining the country sending across the sea to Britain-”

“Wouldn’t it be fine if one claims it is no different from house arrest. Anyway if one concludes a treaty with Britain someone has to be sent, who in this Joseon land would voluntarily go to Britain?”

Send Kim Jwageun to Britain with a feeling of exile.

In the Joseon people’s worldview this would be similar to being dragged to Shenyang after the Byeongja Horan ends, so as an excuse of losing power and fulfilling responsibility it would be very fitting.

“Can’t you give a bit more time?”

“If I give time won’t you just prepare for war.”

Honestly nothing to say, right? Where is it one or two times Joseon lied while doing diplomacy?

“This envoy also was achieved by me strongly petitioning to the higher-ups. I hope you understand the fact that I did not hesitate danger for Joseon.”

If Joseon obediently bows this is not bad in its own way.

Joseon quickly opens the doors and attaches to our side, and the Andong Kim clan takes responsibility for the misgovernment so far and steps back to the second line.

A beautiful ending where no one sheds blood.

But.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Really like this?”

“You know it’s not a problem I decide. I’ll definitely, definitely speak well and try so friendship can be established. So believe and wait. Okay?”

“Fine. I’ll wait. Please take care.”

“Of, of course. So rest well.”

Sending Kim Byeonggi away like that a few days.

I met a welcome face again.

“The appearance is bright.”

“I meet the teacher.”

As I got up from the seat and tried to offer a bow, Heungseon-gun Lee Ha-eung immediately frowned that fierce face hard.

“What teacher. I taught nothing at all. And you chattered that in your country bowing is something only slaves do?”

“Hehe. What can one do since it’s fact. If Joseon people are dispatched as envoys to other countries please definitely tell them not to offer bows.”

Heungseon-gun instead of answering sat his butt in the room so the flop sound was loud.

And.

The frowning tiger instantly switched the mask to a cunning snake.

“Has the time come?”

“Yes.”

“For Joseon to revive and the ancestral temples and altars to stand tall one must finish all those powerful people like rats or mosquitoes. It is a thought everyone in this country except those guys harbors.”

“Even His Majesty?”

“Don’t recklessly put those words in the mouth.”

Is Heonjong also on the same side, or is it just Lee Ha-eung’s personal greed wanting to eradicate all the powerful people.

I don’t need to know.

Anyway in front of the British Empire’s gun muzzle they are all the same.

“The Pungyang Jo clan came over.”

“...Weren’t those yangban people crazy for rejecting heresy?”

“Isn’t it that they shouted rejecting heresy wanting to seize power. It’s nothing more than a slogan one can fold anytime.”

Lee Ha-eung very small.

But whispered so it was heard better than thunder.

“Kim Jwageun rejected all proposals.”

It’s war.

© 명원 #1jwz2

Author's note

Thank you to Time Flight, DKET for your sponsorships!!