Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Reverse Unyo (1)

The Second Opium War ended, but that does not mean China’s war ended.

Still the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was terrifyingly growing power and practically seizing various places in Jiangnan, and even in North China rebel armies including the Nian Army were running rampant.

Surrounding countries one and all were staking the country’s life and death on confirming China’s movements.

The country suspected to be the strongest in the world had its capital burn up in an instant.

Is this because Qing weakened, or because Western barbarians are that powerful?

In Joseon’s case the calculation was much more complicated.

They were not spectators.

From the point British troops landed on Ganghwa Island Joseon also even if unwilling already had to go up on the ring.

Preserve the serving the great with Qing and fight Britain?

Claim Britain as the new Middle Kingdom and send diplomatic relations with Qing to hell?

Joseon chose the latter. Because immediately didn’t want to get beaten.

As a result, Joseon had to set preventing Qing’s armed blackmail or invasion that is certain in the future as the national core agenda.

So.

“100,000 troops?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As Yulgok Yi I discussed early if only raising 100,000 elite soldiers will be no shortage to conquer Liaodong and preserve the country.”

The goal of holding a 100,000-strong army by 1865 that makes the mind distant.

Foreign advisor groups immediately asked back what crazy sound this is upon hearing, but unexpectedly Joseon people were calm.

“Even when Japanese troops invaded in the Imjin year our Joseon mobilized an army a bit short of 200,000. The country is becoming strong incomparable to then, how unable to raise 100,000 elite soldiers?”

“If mobilizing all 100,000 as professional soldiers of course impossible, but if gathering strong men who loyally serve the king and love the country what is 100,000. 300,000 will also be possible.”

“We subjects confirmed Western historical records, their people lack patriotic love of the people so that army was also mainly mercenaries who move receiving money or nobles who move receiving land. But our East from ancient times when external enemies come all unite as one and hold spears and swords, so in Haedong where the Way has taken root military service soon being all the people’s duty is a truth even a three-foot child knows.”

Just conscript!

A story Western military experts would foam at the mouth if hearing, but at the Military Affairs Department people’s confident claims the court nodded.

Since 20,000 British troops captured Beijing, if Joseon troops slightly less elite than British troops are 200,000 there will be no difficulty capturing Beijing.

If assuming not the great burning of Beijing but only defense then half of that 100,000 will do?

Truly miracle logic, but even Aseul the last year private of 21st century South Korea where 600,000-strong army was always prepared passed saying ‘that... is that so?’ so the court’s discussion was concluded that way.

“How to conscript? If telling the people to go to the army do they quietly go?”

“We are now collecting military cloth instead of sending the people to the army. If enlisting tax revenue decreases that much!”

Realistic stories also came out.

However the Military State Affairs Correction Office that awkwardly learned modernity already prepared for that too.

“As you know, as this land survey ends and land reform is implemented the household register is also scheduled to be greatly investigated once more.”

“If not registering in the household register land is not given would they really not respond to the investigation even so? Hehehe.”

“There is no time as good as now for household survey since Dangun. Rather later will become more difficult.”

Officials of the Ministry of Taxation that now became the Ministry of Finance had become habitually surprised day by day like primitives tasting isekai people’s knowledge.

‘Ah. This is tariffs. If collecting tax when exporting and importing can earn tremendous money.’

‘My goodness! Can tear like this!’

‘Ah. This is stamp tax. There is no method of collecting tax this easily well.’

‘If using the power of stamps can apply the monopoly system much more easily too! Amazing!!’

‘Ah. This is income tax. The latest trend just being introduced even in Europe...’

‘Ah, this is a bit.’

How immersed were Western powers in collecting taxes that there are such diverse methods?

Hearing all sorts of bizarre tax stories like inheritance tax, hearth tax, window tax, beard tax, hat tax the West looks like a tax hell and this Joseon feels truly like a civilized great country.

Ministry of Finance officials who came to know a new world now spent the daily routine after eating discussing and discussing what taxes to newly establish.

“How about imposing tax on gat?”

“If doing that a real rebellion will break out.”

“How about imposing tax on rickshaws and carriages?”

“That seems fine!”

“Protests will pour from the Bannam Bak clan.”

“Minister Hwanjae must also pay taxes a bit more.”

“Fine. Rickshaw tax, carriage tax. Next?”

“Impose tax on single households without children.”

“If imposing gate tax every time entering and exiting the four gates-”

Even making this fuss surprisingly better than pre-reform Joseon.

Because current Joseon introduced the new paradigm of <​collect tax when guys with a lot of money luxury>. At least better than imposing tax on iron or salt the East’s traditional indirect tax means?

Moreover before the reform not only collected by the court but places like local offices or military camps separately collected taxes under all sorts of pretexts, but now all caught and changed to use only the budget the country gives down. With just this the tax burden most commoners feel was greatly reduced.

As much as raising the army with taxes collected like this clinging.

The result of other thoughts gradually beginning to enter the subjects’ heads was also extremely natural.

‘Is there no way to earn money using this army?’

‘Those guys just playing is a waste. Is there something?’

Still Joseon people only put out common sense answers about that <​something>.

Things like catching tigers dense in every mountain valley, or inputting soldiers into construction the country does.

But whether will do only that forever is unknown.

***

Japan.

While Joseon is experiencing a terrifying great upheaval where the highest powerful subject flies away caught in a British storm the neighboring country Japan no way fine.

“You just need to choose. Establish friendship with us and together, or war. The United States is prepared to respond fitting whatever choice you choose.”

Compared to the original history the black ship opening proceeded much more intensely.

As Britain and France took fleets out intending to tear all of East Asia bringing tableware sets, the American government seized by anxiety that might really not eat even one bite resolved to open Japan <​regardless of means and methods> is the direct cause.

If speaking of the indirect cause needless to say the appearance of <​Arthur’s Drift>.

As dreams and hopes for Asia became much bigger, America’s spooning also became much faster.

As a result placing the concluded treaty, Japan’s political situation was truly flowing breathlessly.

“How can conclude a treaty arbitrarily ignoring His Majesty the Emperor on such an important matter!”

“Then meaning to war?”

“If necessary must!”

“Joseon collapsed to British barbarians overnight, that powerful China also lost in war twice! Saying to war, not in right mind!”

“Everyone don’t fight, we must unite facing the national crisis-”

“Revere the emperor expel the barbarians! Overthrow the shogunate!!”

“Arrogant bastards, will kill all!!”

In this era Joseon, Qing, Japan all had common matters.

That it is the end of the world.

That the contradictions of the system are becoming naked and already emitting discordant sounds creaking internally before external invasion and showing ominous signs.

Moreover when the time for the country to perish always abnormalities occur in the monarch’s body.

Like the Joseon dynasty tasting the three consecutive at-bats ascension of child, woodcutter, child of Heonjong - Cheoljong - Gojong and legitimacy collapsing the Edo shogunate is also going through similar tracks.

Tokugawa Ienari the Wanli Emperor shogun who produced 55 children over 51 years and governed the country into a mess.

Tokugawa Ieyoshi who tried to change the country facing the great famine failed and collapsed from illness and died.

The current shogun is Tokugawa Iesada who will be recorded in history as the so-called <​sweet potato shogun>.

A person with cerebral palsy and severe intellectual disability body and mind uncomfortable and even lacking the ability to produce offspring became shogun in this important period.

Everyone worrying about Japan’s future pondered.

What should this country’s future be?

How to preserve this country from now on?

Countless people tried to answer here, and of course to push through their own answers had to defeat the guys who put out other answers.

Amid the great turmoil that will overturn not only the shogunate but all of Japan confirmed.

An urgent report came up from a small and lonely island no one was interested in.

“The Tsushima domain lord says, Joseon people want to send a communication envoy.”

“Joseon people?”

The communication envoy ended long ago.

It was customary for Joseon to send a communication envoy if informing the fact that a new shogun took office in Japan, but already that precedent has been vague for long.

But resuming the communication envoy?

Joseon’s request that never happened even once?

“Finally Joseon bastards definitely submitted to our Japan’s dignity!

“Since the new shogun ascended definitely intending to bow their heads to us using this as an excuse!”

First praise of the shogun and shogunate as etiquette.

Unless idiots whose brains were fried with nationalism inside the well, no matter of central officials in charge of the shogunate’s important matters casually saying such sounds sober.

“While we were dealing with American barbarians, heard Joseon was defeated by Igirisu (Britain) and subordinated.”

“Then meaning Britain’s intention?”

“Since Qing also begged for peace after losing to Britain, only our Japan is not submitting to Westerners and facing majestically? Isn’t our help desperate?”

Joseon’s intention conveyed through Tsushima was concise and clear.

<​Want to send a communication envoy to congratulate the new shogun’s ascension and promote friendship among Eastern countries.>

“Would there be anything?”

“If no teeth the gums become cold. No loss in deepening friendship with Joseon.”

“Some domains show disquieting movements, from ancient times the communication envoy was one of the best means to show the shogunate’s authority.”

“But according to records every time the communication envoy comes once expenses exceeding the shogunate’s 1 year budget were required. So the last communication envoy also returned from Tsushima not Edo. Where is money in the shogunate now?!”

Buy prestige with money or not?

In the middle of arguing, a separate unofficial letter flew from the Joseon Foreign Ministry via American merchants.

<​In such an important situation like now if our Eastern countries do not unite there seems to be an unhappy ending for all of us.>

<​Want to omit complicated ceremonies. Will charter a ship so our envoy group go directly to Edo and have important discussions with your country.>

“Joseon seems very urgent.”

“If not coming by land but entering Edo directly expenses will decrease greatly.”

“Fine. Must hear what story Joseon bastards want to say.”

Thus in 1854.

Japan decided to welcome the communication envoy.

But.

“Ships are coming!”

“Foreign ships! Foreign ships appeared again!!”

“Joseon bastards... how many ships did they bring?!”

Came a bit a lot.

Five foreign ships appearing fluttering unidentified taegeuk pattern flags never seen in life.

“Thank you for welcoming so. I am this communication envoy’s chief envoy in charge of the Foreign Minister, Heungseon-gun Lee Ha-eung.”

Iron mace divine skill successor, Prince Heungseon.

“I am advisor Arthur Lee advising Joseon’s diplomacy.”

Blue-eyed scholar, human British Empire Arthur Lee.

“This small life is Im Sangok in charge of a minor post in Joseon’s customs.”

Beijing ginseng arsonist Im Sangok.

Japanese people could not even guess the fact that the most vicious humans in Joseon flocked in groups.

© 명원 #1jwz2