Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Return of the Swindler (1)

There is a fact all British people know.

That is precisely that the East India Company is an idiot.

Since this East India Company started seeing deficit over a hundred years ago, isn’t it amazing how this company is still existing? Of course it was covered with the people’s blood tax. It is natural that the parliament that stakes life on taxes flips.

[Why does a mere company have the right and authority to rule over 100 million Indians?]

Don’t know.

Somehow ended up conquering, and somehow ended up ruling. After fighting and winning against the Mughal Empire and various Indian local lords who tried to erase the East India Company from the map one became the ruler of India before one knew.

But the matter of exploiting Indians and earning money did not happen.

21st century Koreans would immediately understand. Was Joseon that was a Japanese colony quiet anywhere?

The East India Company that was a trading company somehow became the vanguard of colonial rule before one knew, and had to mobilize an enormous number of employees to collect taxes, and since they don’t pay taxes quietly of course had to mobilize the army too, and to run the army had to build fortresses... anyway fucked.

Even because this deficit couldn’t be handled tried to tax tea leaves and rebellion broke out in America and became independent. In other words the Mughal Empire emperor burned his own country and made America independent.

- It doesn’t seem one should say Heonjong’s sophistry is severe...

Anyway.

A hotbed of inefficiency and corruption and a place whose existence itself is a mystery.

Working hard at the East India Company and grabbing a share? Of course skimming and doing smuggling and grabbing a share. Although our father Henry came back grabbing a bit of money from the East India Company, can one grab the chance of life reversal with only pure salary? Of course one has to fill the back pocket.

Nevertheless.

The thickest pipeline among my connections is the East India Company connections the deceased father left. One can’t just let this rot.

The fact that the company has signs of ruin those people would know much better than me, so if one somehow discovers and provides a new ‘revenue source’ my image will skyrocket.

Moreover it is logically valid.

Since the East India Company army was extracted for the Joseon expedition allocate a certain amount of interests to the East India Company too. Isn’t it too logical.

- So? Really shorting with East India Company stock?

Knowing shorting as a beast?

- There are not one or two human guys who float down rivers and seas doing that!

Kya. I didn’t know that.

To say again one of my biggest legacies is precisely the East India Company connections. If one shorts against that and dances ganggangsuwollae company go bankrupt company go bankrupt my reputation plummets vertically.

So my short was this feeling.

“The King of Joseon is interested in our army?”

“Yes.”

After returning to Hong Kong, I had to explain the concluded treaty to Earl of Clarendon.

The plans related to the East India Company army are two.

The first is of course inserting a British military advisory group in Joseon.

“There are several problems. Do you know?”

“All answers are prepared.”

“Speak.”

“If the British army is stationed in Joseon the expense problem will definitely enter deliberation in the parliament. Also when other countries including France establish diplomatic relations with Joseon, according to most favored nation treatment there is a possibility they also say they will station an army. And domestic conservatives who oppose foreign army stationing might cause rebellion.”

“Knowing all and still do it?”

“Yes.”

So the East India Company army.

Not using taxes, and even adding very slightly to the East India Company’s deficit. Even if only hundreds anyway it is employment as mercenaries of another country’s king.

The British government’s army being stationed in Joseon is something I also decline. A foreign army building barracks and living near Hanyang... what is that. Scary. This Joseon has to lay eggs for me but it seems some strange prime minister will suddenly boil and eat baeksuk.

“Joseon currently has a population that is very... remaining. There is use in another direction from Indians.”

“If saying use?”

“They are neither Muslims nor Hindus. I think Joseon laborers will have great use in various ways for those sensitive to this problem.”

Indians and Chinese are sold all over the world under the name <​coolie> facing this imperialist era. Since the hometown is hell it is going to find a new world.

And honestly speaking, Joseon is already close to hell.

Current Joseon is in that name what was it, ‘Malthus trap’ state. No chemical fertilizer but many people so gradually becoming poorer.

According to the alternate history novels I read the correct prescription at this time is conquering Manchuria and group migrating Joseon people there, but unfortunately since I did not possess Heonjong it is difficult to draw a million great army and conquer Qing.

So as a regrettable measure send some Joseon people as coolies. Rather than digging dirt and living in beggar-like Joseon crossing to the new continent.

It might be just a slightly minor option now.

But after the Sepoy Rebellion breaks out?

After prejudice against Hindu and Muslim soldiers arises how about it?

Whether the Joseon army trained by British officers.

Or the Joseon sepoy unit that Britain pays salary.

Either way it is the best course to accumulate military experience and tradition.

“I will discuss once with the East India Company. If about stationing a small number of officers and battalion or company level troops it wouldn’t be bad.”

“Thank you. And...”

“Something again?”

“My older brother is in Joseon, can’t you just let him drive a stake there?”

“...What. It wouldn’t be bad. To utilize your connections that would be more useful.”

Sorry, hyung.

But if one gets entangled in the Sepoy Rebellion and dies it’s too unfair.

You might curse me now but later you will bow saying thank you for saving.

I was convinced that Daniel would absolutely not run wild saying “This fucker trying to succeed a bit stuck the hyung eating seniority in India into a small country in the Far East? Are you a human bastard? Want to die by my hand?”

...Probably.

***

Earl of Clarendon ordered me to go to London and accurately explain to the parliament.

Since I went to Joseon acting as plenipotentiary envoy strictly speaking the treaty was already concluded at the point I stamped the seal.

But the parliament of the British Empire is a den of pirates that picks up even said words without hesitation and might immediately throw a fist if the other protests and speaking of Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston he is a guy more vicious than Churchill.

Rather it is better for me to go directly and explain the significance of this treaty and receive ratification.

But the ordeal really came suddenly.

When Joseon’s historical first Western-bound envoy group, the Pungyang Jo clan’s Jo Byeonghyeon appointed as plenipotentiary minister to Britain and the two royal relatives ‘the king directly instructed to learn Western civilization’, the Ganghwadoryeong duo and royal cooks or various subjects to do miscellaneous work included came to Hong Kong.

Anyway since Joseon doesn’t even have its own passenger ship accompanying me is a natural thing.

As much as one has to spend a long schedule with them going out to greet is also a natural thing.

But I ended up facing a completely unexpected person among the Joseon envoy group.

“This fucker trying to succeed a bit stuck the hyung eating seniority in India into a small country in the Far East? Are you a human bastard? Want to die by my hand?”

“No! How did hyung come here!”

“This bastard! The sound as soon as seeing is ‘how’?”

Kuaaaak!! Jar ghost! Save me! I am receiving a murder threat now! Quickly help me!!

- It’s self-inflicted, this idiot.

Damn beast! If I really die like this you also get fucked as joint guarantee!!

Hyung gave a hot hug with the momentum to break all my spine and ribs, but fortunately left the life. As expected because became a soldier the person became violent.

“But really, how did you come?”

“I used long leave. Both in Joseon and the army upper level all okayed.”

Long leave? Already to this seniority scrap?

“Thanks to what you said persuading Joseon people was easier than picking up cake and eating.”

“I said words?”

“Didn’t those people there value family honor so much? I just said. ‘Arthur hasn’t gotten married yet and this guy doesn’t even have the thought of finding a match. As the eldest brother and family head I must return to the home country and find a match.’ and everyone said truly admirable and praiseworthy and quickly go and come.”

Hyung shrugged his shoulders spewing the momentum of a victor.

Wow shit.

Really got the nose cut with eyes open.

“Right. One good excuse. So? What will you do when returning to Britain. Will you even discharge?”

“What sound is that?”

He looked at me with an annoying face as if looking at an idiot as if didn’t explain everything earlier.

“Of course pick your bride candidate and return.”

“No why would hyung do that!”

“How old are you and saying you won’t get married? Perhaps made a woman in Joseon?”

“That’s not it.”

“You don’t know but I am enormously popular even in India? But that and welcoming as wife is another thing, right.”

“Wait.”

Ah.

Now I understand.

Joseon maybe not but the East India Company wouldn’t easily give leave, something was up.

“What about hyung doing that?”

“Huh?”

“Why is hyung unmarried?”

“That... I, that, what is it. Because free soul.”

“Doing nonsense, doing nonsense.”

“Looking for a decent widow why this bastard!”

Finally Daniel who became vicious wrapped my head with thick arms and indiscriminately punched without mercy. This time dying! Really dying! Jar ghost, quickly bite! Bite!!

- You really have the talent of earning beatings with the mouth. Let’s get hit a bit and correct. Eton style.

“Since I am the head of the family shouldn’t I raise the family? Then of course have to seduce a widow with a lot of money and no mouths to feed?”

“Why would such a person necessarily hyung?”

“Handsome and charm full score and capable and even proved bravery on the battlefield how many people would marry a widow because the situation is poor. Don’t worry. You don’t have to do that so I’ll look for a decent person.”

Marriage.

Well one has to do it.

Suddenly the head became complicated.

Like that I even took on an unexpected sub quest.

We all headed to London together.

***

The method of going from China to Britain is not one.

When I went back and forth on the <​Henry> what was the purpose. It was trade. Since there is a lot of luggage and my ship one boarded that and went on the long journey crossing the Cape of Good Hope.

But now the situation is a bit different.

Luggage is much less, and time is gold more than any other time.

Therefore the ship that departed Hong Kong instead of crossing the Cape of Good Hope entered deep into the Red Sea and entered port at Egypt, Suez.

There is no Suez Canal yet.

So from Suez go by land route to the Mediterranean side port, Alexandria.

“British Empire capital is being invested in Egypt. Soon if the railway line connecting Suez-Cairo-Alexandria is pierced the pain of going around the Cape of Good Hope will also disappear.”

“There is also talk of digging a canal in Suez?”

“What. The thoughts frog bastards do are all that idiot level. But who do we agree to canal construction for?”

British people residing in Egypt had a very cynical reaction to the idea of <​Suez Canal>.

But that gets pierced.

Since no canal and no railway we headed to Alexandria by carriage.

But surprisingly going by ship again from Alexandria to London is much faster than going around the Cape of Good Hope. If only cargo is small this is much better, and if railway is laid in the future even cargo demand can all be covered seems to be the British authorities’ calculation.

“My goodness. A separate paradise.”

“Looking around all sides only sand...!”

Leaving the culture shock of Joseon people behind we continued to advance and advance.

Finally returned.

The land full of fog and soot, and delusion.

To London.

“It’s Joseon people!!”

“Cipangu people! Cipangu people came!!”

“Please look here a bit!”

Onlookers with nothing to do and those who look like newspaper reporters swarming.

“Look there!”

“Arthur Lee!!”

“Daniel Lee is also there!”

“Conquerors of the Far East! Brothers, please look here a bit! Here!!”

What?

What sound is this again?

“Hyung, did you hear something?”

“Hahaha! Yes. I am precisely Daniel Lee who collapsed a kingdom with one gun and one sword! Quickly cheer me more!”

“Waaaaa!!!”

Crazy guy.

What is this.

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Author's note

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