Chapter 58

Chapter 58

The Sprout of Capitalism (3)

1854.

Qing admitted defeat.

Britain and France used only an extremely small part of sincerity.

From the beginning these countries are crazy guys who during the Napoleonic Wars decades ago rolled not nominal but real million-strong armies and fought.

No matter how the Far East is the opposite side of the earth, just these throwing one jab and that huge Qing getting beaten and flying buung and becoming in a critical state.

Thus the Beijing Treaty concluded was truly terrible beyond compare.

Payment of vast war reparations.

Opening of more ports.

More territorial concessions including the Kowloon Peninsula.

Establishment of diplomatic legations in Beijing and permission for diplomats to reside.

Full permission for foreigners’ passage in the Yangtze basin and inland travel.

Full legalization of opium.

Freedom of faith and missionary work, and mandatory protection of missionaries.

Permission for recruitment of Chinese labor and overseas migration.

Prohibition of the expression ‘barbarian’ referring to the West in all official documents.

All of the over 50 clauses were extremely humiliating things for Qing.

But among them the most fatal was.

[Confirm that Joseon, Ryukyu, Vietnam are independent countries.]

All fell off.

The justification to intervene in traditional vassals was greatly reduced.

The prestige of the Middle Kingdom empire was driven to the ground.

Of course attached shabby tails like ‘recognize that there is a special relationship between Qing and these countries’. With just this Qing diplomatic officials breathed a sigh of relief.

From the end of 53 Qing realized the fact that the surrounding power dynamics were changing rapidly.

“Our Majesty expressed great concern seeing Qing groaning to them. The Russian Empire will help you. Britain and France have no faith and are countries that enjoy invading other countries-”

“Wait, wait. No. It’s fine.”

“Don’t worry. Our powerful army will help recapture Beijing!”

“I said it’s fine!!”

Surprisingly a dramatic agreement was reached.

Anglo-French did not want to hold out hands to America either, and the appearance of Russia coming holding a spoon and taking one bite and leaving was even more disliked.

Qing was afraid of Russia.

Britain and France only covet the profits of trade but those Russian bastards wanted land.

Surprisingly Russia at first loudly boasted saying will protect, then the Westerners whispered something among themselves and demanded the Maritime Province land saying ‘the price of mediating peace’. At this point just bandits.

Instead.

“If concluding this treaty we will actively support the Qing government not the rebels.”

“Is that true?”

“The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is hard to trust right. As long as you faithfully fulfill the treaty we see you as a more appropriate partner than that pseudo rebel army.”

Exclusion of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

For Qing that tasted bitter thoroughly in front of that Western new-style army, just imagining that army becoming a hammer that smashes the rebels as is felt full. Quickly erased from the head the fact that these guys supported that Taiping Heavenly Kingdom under the water.

Before the ink of the Beijing Treaty even dried they became a solid relationship.

What to do next?

“Must accept Westerners’ objects.”

“We also must bring in machines like them, run factories, prepare a powerful army!”

“Chinese essence Western utility! Eastern way Western technology! If Western technology is grafted onto Chinese civilization the world will become peaceful again!”

The so-called birth of the Self-Strengthening Movement.

And they also had an immediate task.

“Must destroy the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and punish Joseon.”

“Guys beyond compare in arrogance. Trusting Britain and swaggering but never thought that Britain would abandon them?”

The British reaction was beyond their expectations.

They had no particular ambition for territory, and above all as long as Qing continues to insert vast profits into those guys’ mouths seemed no matter of abandoning Qing.

Even if punishing Joseon, if only leaving their interests in Joseon there is no matter of British people having a seizure.

The next goal of the Qing army that will collapse the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and stand tall in the world again.

That will precisely be Joseon that always bowed its head to them.

***

Money calls money.

Full buying Joseon coin was definitely the best judgment of my life.

Suppose this Arthur Lee was born not as a British but as a Joseon person.

Because there was the unique advantage of being British I could deepen close friendship with people like Heonjong or Kim Jwageun or Lee Ha-eung, if a Joseon person would have dreamed even in dreams?

Even if born as a royal or a young master of a precious household the same. What on earth to do how in this era’s Joseon. Doesn’t seem like if I do the rebellion Hong Gyeongrae also failed it would succeed.

On the other hand, suppose I born as a British did other things instead of riding Joseon coin.

My age now just passed twenty and although a non-civilized country in a beggar den now kneading one country like kneading rice cake and slurping all sorts of interests.

Business? Invention? Why do such things? Just securing interests and skimming fees money is automatically generated? What is there that can earn bigger than this?

I provide appropriate advice to these pitiful and regrettable Joseon people, and Joseon people become civilized and advance to the international community. This is precisely perfect division of labor.

But there is an immutable law of the human world.

If others are sucking honey there are guys who get angry seeing that appearance.

‘What is that bastard sucking honey alone?’

‘Huh? Getting heated?’

‘If a guy like that can do it I could do better?’

How much envy and jealousy did Park In-ho the best salesman of the 21st century suffer? The fact that I had no girlfriend, the fact that unluckily dragged to the detention center all definitely their conspiracy.

- That’s just you...

Shut up. All conspiracy. The conspiracy of dark forces is originally set as the national rule of web novels!

Let’s think from the position of the country called Britain.

If Joseon grows greatly the profit Britain will earn in Joseon also grows surprisingly. Moreover can also check Russia.

Since Russia’s advance into the Maritime Province started due to this Beijing Treaty, by now in London the <​Joseon nurturing plan for checking Russia> I so chattered would also have revived with reality again.

But.

What if thinking the opposite?

If just making Qing a minion and raising it can do a similar role?

Joseon that, is it particularly needed?

- Aren’t you thinking too far?

No.

Originally businessmen always getting hit in the back of the head by politicians is a constant.

Guys I dislike.

Or guys with greatly vested interests in China.

Moreover since Gladstone is attached as my sponsor, his political enemies or the opposite party claiming to throw away Joseon and invest more in Qing is too reflexively natural a thing?

- Well... saying like that it also seems not wrong words. Anyway the human world is dirty complicated. So? Countermeasure?

Countermeasure.

The first is of course the Joseon reborn as an independent country proving its ability and entering the lowest seat of the powers.

- Does that work?

Doesn’t work so problem.

Even Japan that succeeded the Meiji Restoration barely got recognized only after winning the Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War and the First World War breaking out.

But Joseon is a continuous crisis from right now.

No domestic problems is a tremendous advantage, but the small weight class that will obviously rock like a sailboat in a typhoon if anyone among Britain or France or Russia sets mind and pokes is a fatal weakness. Moreover the typhoon Qing ship will obviously get bigger the more it goes.

Moreover even if Joseon grows problem.

Now everyone is hahahoho but isn’t the human heart changing in an instant when going to the bathroom and when coming out?

As expected must raise my weight class.

If touched some money with the straw inserted in Joseon, must further raise my own weight class and become a monster-level chaebol.

Enough that even the British government can’t recklessly change policies because of my notice.

Enough that other countries also think of me once even if trying to do fucked things for nothing.

Since I already succeeded in catching a very unique position politically, if somehow taking off one chaebol group now it doesn’t seem completely absurd words.

Then of course must catch bigger opportunities, what comes to mind first is China and Japan.

And if the Crimean War breaks out there might be some opportunity in Europe again.

Don’t know exactly when but the Civil War will also break out so at this time new business opportunities might open.

How to apply this future to advance on the path of increasing my wealth and power, still the sense not coming well is a headache...

It was then.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“The guest you were waiting for has come. What shall we do?”

“Will go out immediately.”

Properly using servants and maids is precisely the virtue of a British gentleman.

Slaves are not my taste and moreover because Lizzy whose faith is devout turned on double pupils, of course the people we use in our house are all employees who receive salary and work.

Come.

Time to work.

***

My loyal anti-China lackey Wang Ba.

For reference Wang Ba in Chinese is a curse. In accurate Chinese pronunciation about ‘wangba’. Just reading the Chinese characters in Joseon style became the same as a curse absolutely not a curse in local pronunciation so don’t misunderstand!

- The introduction is too long...

“Taiping Heavenly Kingdom guys, already seem not ordinary internal strife from now.”

“So is there a problem with business?”

“No. There isn’t. Rather business became a bit more pleasant not without.”

“That’s good. Thinking of increasing trade with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom a bit more from now on.”

Thanks to hegemon king Heonjong’s strong obsession wanting to exterminate the Jurchens and pioneer Joseon people’s survival space, Joseon people began running Western-style weapons factories in earnest.

Natural words but both quantity and quality all mess.

Even if bringing Western technicians for Joseon still lacking industrial capacity well... can’t be full with the first drink right?

“If smuggling new-style weapons produced in Joseon to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom profit will be quite solid?”

“Of course nothing to say. Weapons are precisely what they want the most.”

“Good. If no teeth the gums become cold. If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom collapses the next target will of course be Joseon so trade with them is also a heavy matter for us.”

Can sell this idiot-like weapon receiving extra money so whether rebels or whatever what important.

But must not end here.

“And as I heard... among Westerners there are people joining the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Correct?”

“Yes. Surprising but yes.”

Should call it proto-communism.

Like religion and ideology mostly, once setting flashy slogans and plausible ideals as goals occasionally moth-like lives get hooked.

Western powers of course just snorted once and ended, but in most cases a considerable number of Westerners flowing into this Far East came here because life is a complete mess.

- Like you?

Right.

My life was also a mess with nothing to lose anywhere.

Anyway among such mess lives no way there is not even one person bewitched by the slogans the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom put forward.

“Please look for a Westerner with connections to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom leadership.”

“Saying leadership?”

“Anyone is fine. Ah and... who is the most decent human among the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom leadership?”

“I don’t know well either but they say Shi Dakai is the most excellent in character and a general skilled in fighting.”

“Then somehow connect once with him.”

Absolutely the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom must not collapse easily.

British hyungnim if doing this guy all will break, but were British people a race that lives listening to the government? For my benefit can do a bit of harm to the country.

“Understood. Is there more work to order?”

“If among those wanting to take refuge there are those possessing useful skills please recommend going to Joseon.”

Import of foreign workers.

Because Joseon’s industrial capacity was miserable enough to far transcend my expectations, if can bring some Chinese artisans whatever and make them work will definitely be helpful for domestic demand too. The king already permitted.

And again.

“Understood.”

“Came a long way can’t just send. Please have a meal and relieve the travel fatigue a bit and slowly return.”

“Thank you!”

“Ah, right. And I have a game I newly investigated. Will you accompany a bit?”

“Game... you say?”

“Definitely convinced everyone will find it fun.”

Yes yes.

I plan to spread happiness to Chinese people a bit earlier.

Since opium was legalized, now learn 21st century style mahjong too.

I love Chinese people this much.

© 명원 #1jwz2

Author's note

Over 2 weeks the stomatitis? ulcer? that occurred in the tonsil is not healing... if no improvement even by next week let’s try a tissue examination once heuk heuk

Hope you have a good day today too!