Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Modernity Is Cold (3)

Lee & Gladstone Company was sailing smoothly day by day.

They say there is power in the name, as expected must be because the name is good.

- The name Gladstone?

No.

If using the abbreviation it becomes LG. Somehow the feeling of the hegemon of Jamsil comes strongly? Always seems like will win. Not twins but just sold one set of brothers in London too.

- The nonsense is a bit tight... from the beginning if abbreviation shouldn’t it be L&G?

If saying LNG it looks like natural gas. Not even Bespin gas but natural gas what meaning in this 19th century?

In the Chinese market gathering money with a rake LG Company is using the name Igeok Yanghang.

When Western-style companies of this era go to China most attached the tag ‘yanghang’ to the name, hang means store so yanghang means Western-style store, further Western-style company.

To 21st century Koreans Yuhan Yanghang is the name heard at least, but currently in the 19th century companies like Iwha Yanghang or whatever yanghang were diligently mining money on that huge continent.

But who am I. Isn’t it the salesman of the 21st century.

There is no word ‘hang’ on Joseon land from the beginning so even saying ‘yanghang’ what meaning. To the absolute majority of Joseon people it just sounds like alien language.

‘Enterprise’ or ‘company’ is the same. Rather about sanghoe is understandable.

So in Joseon Lee & Gladstone Company was going to launch with a name about <​Igeok Sanghoe> or <​Aseul Sanghoe>.

But to Joseon people’s aesthetic sense this also seemed not.

“Igeok Sanghoe, what is that name?”

“Took one each from my surname Lee, and the surname of the sponsor Gladstone member.”

“Put it away.”

Lee Ha-eung who has unnecessarily wide meddling and likes interfering in everything grumbled.

“I am quite close with peddlers?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Must do a warm and familiar name that can fleece the people’s pockets more, what if doing such a bizarre name? Already the items handled are all Westerners’ products.”

“Heo.”

The posture of a gentleman who accepts even if pointed out. Possible because I learned the Way.

As a result the name of the Joseon branch of Lee & Gladstone Company that officially revealed its appearance became <​Geumseong Sanghoe>.

- Must have been itchy wanting to say that word, very.

How endure when the abbreviation became LG! If this is not heaven’s revelation what else! It’s a miracle! It’s a miracle!

- Why so fussing just coincidence.

Seeing thinking this is just coincidence as expected the limit of beast brain can’t be helped.

Do you know which team LG Twins succeeded? <​MBC Blue Dragon>.

And who is next to me now?

- Ah, aaah...!

This body that handles dragons established a company and the name became LG.

This much is not coincidence. It’s fate! If such an auspicious sign old people would have long piled a circular altar and performed a sacrifice to heaven and spare!

- So, now will establish Joseon’s first baseball team and play ball?

No.

I don’t know baseball?

According to research results people who watch baseball have shorter average lifespan than people who don’t.

- This fuck...

How trivial would baseball be to romantic MAX Joseon people who enjoy stone fights where heads break.

Have to earn money what baseball.

***

Around when 1853 was ending.

As the delegations of America and France arrived in Joseon one after another the second opening season arrived.

“Really a poor country.”

“Hanyang seems more backward than Edo.”

First to arrive was America.

Americans really... had no particular thoughts about Joseon. Anyway since the market opened must sell about that.

Their interests were largely three.

Low carbon.

Whale catching.

Ginseng.

Low carbon and whale catching ultimately converge into one.

Safe fishing and supply of American whaling ships.

American ginseng was one of the products that could be sold to China at least so a slightly weighty topic to them too. In one word whether can color and sell American ginseng as Joseon ginseng with premium attached.

Natural words, but Joseon-style houses are ambiguous for Western diplomats to stay unless adventure maniacs who came on their own feet wanting exotic experiences.

Ultimately providing lodging for them naturally became my work. Unlike Joseon where women must be in the inner room Lizzy can also play the role of hostess entertaining them so not a bad thing for me either.

Still Kim Jwageun House was a hanok, but we who moved into this house first bought all sorts of furniture from Hong Kong. Things like desks, tables, dining tables, chairs.

When young somehow adapted well, but I who already ate Thames water and returned had no confidence to re-adapt to yangban leg floor-sitting life. Joseon people also should gradually know the coolness of chairs now.

“Nice to meet. I am Arthur Lee.”

“Heard a lot. Working hard to spread civilization on this Joseon land?”

“Yes. The Joseon government also whether moved by my efforts, gave the position of advisor to the Reform Office. The work of providing various help so Joseon people can safely become members of the international community.”

If saying Military State Affairs Correction Office Yankees have no way to understand so just simply translated as Reform Office.

As expected, as soon as saying received an official post they began to show interest.

“What kind of work does the Reform Office do?”

“Nominally it is a state organ that oversees the process of Joseon introducing Western civilization and systems.”

“Then actually-”

“Practically a small cabinet. All of Joseon’s state affairs are done here. His Majesty the King of Joseon wants to radically transform this country modeling the West, and the Reform Office does all work for this.”

Yes. Isn’t <​good Border Defense Council> precisely the Military State Affairs Correction Office. Since when was Joseon a country that runs keeping the system.

“Then Mr. Lee’s role will not be bound by the title of advisor.”

“Yes. Perhaps don’t know if read my poor writing, but I and the Joseon king are friends who have been together since young and the current Foreign Minister Prince Heungseon was my teacher. They always listen to my words and always request my opinion when reviewing policies.”

Right. What to hide.

I am precisely Joseon’s unofficial real power! I am eating everything!

When I confidently declared that I am the real power black curtain monopolizing Joseon’s state affairs, Americans made expressions like Alibaba who learned the secret of open sesame while half believing half doubting.

“Perhaps can we also hear a bit the future image of Joseon that Minister Lee draws?”

“All of Joseon’s power originates from His Majesty the King the absolute monarch. The rebellion of the conservative faction that rejected Western-style reform was crushed, and the absolute majority of poor farmers are sending overwhelming support to the new government. As much as His Majesty’s will toward modernization is strong, I forecast that Joseon will succeed in modernization and become a powerful industrial state.”

“Very impressive.”

Trying to put a smile on the face but inside definitely thinking ‘will that work?’.

But the important thing to you guys is not whether Joseon modernizes or not.

The vast businesses and interests that will occur in that process.

“Currently Joseon’s population is excessive, and although pushing policies encouraging small-scale independent farmers by collapsing the interests of noble lords with this absolutely cannot feed countless unemployed. If not building many factories in Joseon and absorbing them as workers the future will be dark.”

“The United States also has a specialty in industrial development. Regarding the work of establishing factories close consultation with the Joseon Kingdom seems possible.”

“And perhaps don’t know, the Joseon Kingdom was originally a country that ruled Manchuria. The Manchu people currently ruling Qing are a people who were under Joseon’s rule.”

“Hoho.”

“Joseon’s immediate top priority task is nurturing military power to fight against Qing’s physical threat, and the next task is recovering the stolen Manchuria.”

Joseon will conquer Manchuria.

An ambitious dream, but the important thing is the point <​Joseon has the legitimate right to claim sovereignty over Manchuria>.

From the position of knowing that Qing is currently getting beaten like a dog on boknal and dropping gold like an RPG game monster, the existence of a neighboring country prepared to fight one round with Qing was an enormous business opportunity in itself.

“Helping the oppressed weak people is the thing the United States desires the most. If needing help anytime-”

“Of course needed.”

I affirmed refreshingly.

Anyway the conversation here is all just private talk. The opponent will also be keeping in mind the possibility that my self-proclaimed unofficial real power declaration is just bluff.

But because of that it’s a straight ball.

No need to speak indirectly, just throw the bill.

“Loans are needed.”

“Would be to raise large-scale businesses.”

“Things money will enter are endless. Already agreed to provide loans from Britain too but takes a bit of time. I pulled in the financiers of the City of London, but national projects are separate again.”

“For example what would there be?”

“Weapons factory, textile factory, railway, telegraph, port maintenance. Even just this is truly a great construction?”

Say in advance.

Loans are debt.

Debt is usually said to be harmful to health, but in the national businesses mentioned now rather not handing over shares even if bearing debt is better.

Port maintenance is planned to be done excellently by Britain who is the most urgent themselves. Instead will have to allow the British fleet to stay and also do supply but this is rather beneficial to Joseon.

Railways and telegraphs <​Far East Colonization Company> already ate the interests cleanly. If something can pull in Americans too, well.

Then the remaining is one.

“A factory that produces weapons and ammunition, cannons is desperately needed.”

“Is a factory particularly needed? Importing from America seems much cheaper.”

“China’s weapons demand is enormous. I guarantee, if establishing a factory in Joseon and exporting to China can repay the loan in an instant and spare.”

Just now chattered about Qing’s military threat so no way this sounds like will sell to Qing.

Of course must sell to Taiping Heavenly Kingdom friends.

“Will review positively.”

“Good. Now the detailed talk not me but try dividing once with the Joseon government’s officials.”

I ended the conversation giving the hint that my words will not particularly differ from the Joseon government’s official opinion.

Once America half came over.

***

Compared to Americans where only the single supreme proposition of <​earn money> exists, French bastards as expected the world’s worst, most vicious people who eat frogs picky and wanted many things too.

The French Second Republic took down the sign in just 4 years, and in its place the French Second Empire led by Emperor Louis Napoleon appeared.

This empire as expected not a country that started shooting grapeshot with cannons in Paris from the start very impatient in personality, and has many things to do.

But who am I. A dragon tamer warrior who came looking at the future. If Zeratul also received prophecies as long and detailed as me would definitely have lived long without illness.

What French people want is not simply the opportunity to earn money.

The opportunity to display the empire’s prestige.

Something that binds the opposition with national pride and raises the emperor’s approval rating.

But suddenly angry.

- What again?!

If knew would be dragged to the past would have read more books and come.

In this romantic 19th century countless opportunities would definitely be laid everywhere, but I at most only holding this booger-sized Joseon one and on top of that only seduced one Nobel is all. If I prepared in advance and came over wouldn’t I be a Rockefeller-level rich man by now.

If that jar ghost bastard didn’t only do nonsense saying practicing I would have memorized very thoroughly from steam engine blueprints starting <​Challenge Isekai 0 Day Warrior> like studying for the college entrance exam.

Now instead of anger sadness rises.

The eyes become warm.

Other alternate history web novels I read have much more helpful ghosts instead of this stupid jar ghost, or live enjoying 21st century latest civilization as is, or receive special skill privileges befitting an isekai warrior, or if digging a bit with a shovel on the ground trucks and gold silver treasures spring up, or at least possess Xiang Yu-level combat power or Yi Sun-sin-level military strategy or such things.

How did I receive nothing? How can be this unfair? Am I not the dirt spoon among dirt spoons?

Even if unfair can’t be this unfair.

The legitimate rights I should receive were taken away.

- These days the nonsense is gradually getting tighter...

Have to face French bastards how can be sober. As long as my nationality is the British Empire those guys will definitely pick faults or act disagreeably.

And the day of the decisive battle dawned.

How to satisfy French people craving national pride and make Napoleon III the new Goryeo Son of Heaven?

I immediately recited the prepared lines.

“The meter prototype is needed.”

“Can you say again?”

“In the Joseon Kingdom rather than the imperial unit system the scientific metric system is better? As much as Joseon people hope for the path of progress and science, I holding back tears hope French people help so Joseon can introduce the metric system...”

British person’s defeat declaration!

The metric system is better than yard-pound!

At the national pride reality shock greeting as soon as setting foot in Joseon the French diplomats’ mouths tore as big as a washbasin.

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