Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Reverse Unyo (3)

Comparing with other countries overseas, can know the fact that the three Eastern countries each played separately to a vicious degree.

Qing?

Regarding themselves as the center of the world even the country name is China and the land name is Central Plains. Vicious egoism regarding outside their world as barbarian world.

Joseon also not losing here, that name the majestic Little Middle Kingdom.

How no exchange with overseas the civilization that comes in at least is all very little coming through China, even geographic information update is much late. Regarding all except themselves as barbarians Joseon is also the same.

Japan was no different.

21st century Koreans often mistakenly think Japan somehow still an island country so went out harder beyond the sea and was awake, but this is a story only half correct.

The Edo shogunate was thorough isolationism, and almost no exchange with other countries.

Nevertheless the reason better than Joseon is simple, just because the geographic location was super cool and resources were many.

No matter how Japan tries to lock the country door if money smell comes Western bastards who go anywhere come in somehow and give overseas knowledge and also give money so trade try try so at least a bit better than Joseon.

Japan also regarded other countries as barbarians the same.

Moreover since the vicious sound called ‘conquest of Joseon theory’ came out bit by bit, Japanese people’s cunning needs no more explanation.

At this point when Westerners dragged huge ships and cannons to the front of the door, public opinion inside Japan split in half.

“Must enlighten even now! Don’t you see that huge Qing collapsing miserably twice? Don’t you see Joseon’s capital captured in one month and becoming shabby! Quickly must open the port!”

The shogunate claiming must accept Western civilization.

“Isn’t it because you governed the country like idiots that it became this shape this appearance! What enlightenment, think after you first get out!”

“Traitor bastards who look down on His Majesty the Emperor! You who became foreign powers’ running dogs first reflect! Inside revere His Majesty the Emperor and outside prepare to confront barbarians!”

And the flow that appears opposing here is precisely revere the emperor expel the barbarians.

Still those shouting the shogunate itself must disappear were not that many. Although the country was tilting the shogunate’s presence was still intact.

However the emperor whose presence was extremely transparent in Japanese history was gradually receiving more people’s attention.

And one more.

In places far from Edo, that is Tokyo anti-shogunate tendency domains that grew weight class through smuggling were each raising power.

These are precisely the famous Satsuma domain and Choshu domain.

The protagonists of the Meiji Restoration and the forces that become the core of the Japanese Empire.

Satsuma needless to say.

That famous Shimazu family rules Satsuma.

“Shimazu that-”

“In Chinese characters Dojin (Shimazu) clan. Dojin Uihong was precisely that Shimazu’s boss.”

“Dojin Uihong! That guy at Sacheon and Noryang even chewing not refreshing!”

The Second Jinju Castle Battle where blood rose to the ankles.

The Sacheon Castle Battle that was the last large-scale land battle of the Imjin War.

And the Noryang Naval Battle where Admiral Yi Sun-sin died.

“Then that, Jangju? How is Choshu?”

“Kobayakawa Takakage is a person of that household.”

Kobayakawa?

Byeokjegwan Battle, Ichi Battle, and Haengju Great Victory.

Similarly a household history that curses come out from Joseon people’s mouths.

Already prejudice cannot help but form, but the shogunate’s explanation poured oil here.

“Satsuma and Choshu? Ahyu, don’t even say. Vicious seeds vicious seeds.”

“Joseon everyone had headaches because of Japanese pirates? All those guys. Even if the country stopped several times not to go out to the sea the bastards who held swords and went plundering are all those guys.”

“That neighborhood is originally a rebellious village. How vicious and evil-hearted, how much did Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu who opened the shogunate say in his will ‘lay my corpse toward Satsuma’? If raising a rebellion those guys will definitely raise it!”

How would Joseon people of the country most proficient in Neo-Confucianism in the world, the country of justification and loyalty stay still hearing this story?

“If land of such profiteers and last seeds of course the law of dreaming of opposing heaven overturning the set principles.”

“Prohibited no more plundering Joseon and oppressed Ryukyu and exploited wealth? Truly bastards!”

“If the shogunate declines and these guys open a new country, will definitely raise the Imjin year turmoil again like the ancestors they bite and suck.”

Suspicion became conviction.

In the situation where Qing’s invasion is practically set although don’t know when, if even Japan opens its eyes to that invasion nature again Joseon’s future is pitch black.

But from the shogunate’s position a bit embarrassed.

‘These bastards. Thinking we can’t manage those guys one?’

In the situation the whole country is noisy saying must confront barbarians, holding hands with Joseon usually regarded as easy? Will it really pass quietly?

At least the shogunate seemed no intention to hastily conclude something like an offensive-defensive alliance.

“The shogunate says will discipline the household well so don’t talk nonsense.”

“Really said so?”

“Would there be such a thing. But aren’t we the same? If the Japanese king suddenly sends an envoy and says if turmoil occurs in an emergency they will send an army and help what would say?”

“Would say don’t bullshit.”

Lee Ha-eung only nodded at my cynical answer.

“Once saw the situation, how about just concluding that commerce treaty and going?”

As soon as Im Sangok said money smell comes Lee Ha-eung immediately quit defending orthodoxy rejecting heterodoxy or whatever and transformed into a passionate free trade fighter. This person is precisely Joseon’s natural born politician, homo politicus.

Right.

Wanted to try this line once.

“I have one plan.”

Will show the power of the 21st century, island country barbarians.

***

Do you know what the world’s three great books are?

The Bible, the Iliad, and what follows after is of course the masterpiece of English literature <​Arthur’s Drift>.

Speaking of this Arthur’s Drift it possesses elegant sentences and life lessons, the amazing narrative and fun of first contact between unfamiliar civilizations so definitely a great work that all students in the world will study even for exams later.

- But got stabbed by the shabby novel hyung wrote?

Ait, fuck. Don’t mention Daniel that bastard’s fire starter. That human is really suspicious whether that is a person’s life or not.

I cannot understand. How is the first thing a person does as soon as coming to Joseon seducing a gisaeng and bringing into the house? Unless the brain is dominated by the dick how?

What would the nephew growing healthily in Britain think if knowing. After making a way marrying a widow dad went to the opposite side of the earth and seduced another woman?

- Never seen two households? Common even in Joseon?

My sensitivity as a 21st century person cannot endure. Is it section chief Shima or that?

Anyway the important thing is precisely the fact that this Arthur Lee’s masterpiece Arthur’s Drift was published even in the East.

If Westerners came to read that book because of curiosity about the unknown world East, Joseon people came to see because of the curiosity ‘how do foreigners view our country’, and Chinese people... don’t know. Why do they see.

And surprisingly.

The Japanese version of <​Arthur’s Drift> I never wrote was widely widely spread.

Would I have come all the way to Japan for nothing with nothing to do?

Of course came weighing ‘the probability of suspicion when a British comes wearing Joseon clothes VS the probability of help when a quite famous celebrity visits Japan’.

“Arthur-dono! How is Edo?”

“Very cool. A place with another charm different from Hanyang.”

“Is London really always full of fog and smoke?”

“Yes. Smoke endlessly rises from chimneys built in huge industrial complexes, that smoke is precisely the symbol of civilization and progress.”

While fishing time matching words appropriately.

Hearing the news that the author of that famous <​Arthur’s Drift> Arthur Lee visited Japan people began coming from various places in Japan.

“Divine land is different from Joseon!! Even if barbarian countries like Joseon immediately opened the door in front of Westerners’ guns and swords, this divine land protected by His Majesty the Emperor never obediently collapses!”

“Yes, I see.”

“This Igirisu seed! Came to invade Japan following Joseon? Know all!”

“No. I came for academic exchange to the end. Rather I hope my homeland Britain does not repeat unfortunate fights in the East.”

At first nationalists flocked first.

But while enduring and spending time patiently, those interested in enlightenment also gradually appeared one by two and sent messages wanting to meet me.

“Want to hear high opinions on Japan’s future.”

“Dark.”

“...Why?”

Since not drawing the sword suddenly or getting angry saying insulted us add 5 points. Met an excellent person.

“The fate of all countries that do not accept Western civilization is the same.”

“If just accepting those objects fine?”

“No. Absolutely cannot just accept objects. This is also a story I did the same to Joseon.”

Discourse on how to reform.

And the question of how Japan must move to survive in this harsh world.

Right. Was waiting for such questions.

“First, there must be bone-cutting effort. There is too big a gap in talent utilization between Britain and France, and Joseon and Japan. How can a country that selects talent only from yangban and samurai classes with power defeat a country that selects the best talent among all the people?”

“Indeed right words!”

“This country if not born as a son of a precious house can never succeed and cannot take charge of the shogunate’s big work. Lord Arthur’s words are truly right!”

“Then is the lord claiming only enlightenment is the way to live?”

“Yes. As much as today’s world situation is that cannot survive alone, if Japan also wants to survive must make good friends and receive guarantee of that safety.”

I kindly guided these Japanese people who became in a listening posture.

“Japan’s future is in the sea. If advancing to the continent seems able to secure enormous territory, but to do so must face the huge empires of Qing and Russia. This is absolutely not a profitable act.”

“Then?”

“Get along well with America, accept Britain, and possess the posture of becoming the Far East’s bridgehead confronting Qing and Russia.”

“What do you think about Joseon?”

“No choice. If both Joseon and Japan countries do not harmonize and Joseon advances to the continent and Japan advances to the sea these two countries will ultimately be destined to go up on the table of other Western powers. Their fate depends on how quickly these two countries harmonize.”

Let’s throw a bit more impact to these audience who seemed deeply shocked.

Properly propaganda needs a strong slogan.

Who tries to remember all such long words one by one. Must be explainable with only one word.

“I defined this precisely as <​Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere>.”

“Greater East Asia... co-prosperity!!”

“Truly a name that seems to ring the soul!”

Right. You guys have enough to ring... because it’s the naming you guys made...

“Teacher Lee. To live up to that name shouldn’t also unite with Qing?”

“Qing has the arrogance that they are the center of the world remaining so can never be together. They will believe Joseon and Japan must subordinate rather than co-prosper. Isn’t that so?”

“Indeed...!”

“If Joseon and Japan quickly enlighten, and further help the enlightenment of Southeast Asian countries such as Ryukyu and Annam Western powers also will not be able to recklessly invade you. Only a solid alliance will protect your safety from the force of powerful powers.”

Our long conversation and passionate speech were all written down through interpreters prepared in advance.

Organized this and made one book, attached the name <​Japan Strategy> and offered it up to the shogun of Edo and the emperor of Kyoto.

“This is it!”

“This is the answer!”

“Greater East Asia co-prosperity! Ally Japan and Joseon and confront Westerners!”

Of course this book ‘leaked’ and copies were widely widely scattered in the Edo market, but I did not blame these barbaric Japanese who don’t know copyright.

Because Japanese intellectuals who read the book will immediately form public opinion.

“Since your country thinks of our Japan thickly and our friendship has come down for hundreds of years how would the host refuse the guest as the duty of the host? Since today’s myriad countries’ duty is in treaties, in principle agree to the words of concluding a treaty between the two countries and deepening friendship...”

Finally the shogunate was persuaded.

It was time for the Joseon-Japan Treaty of Peace and Commerce.

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