Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Invisible Threat (3)

Joseon’s change now no one could stop.

“Your Majesty! How about introducing this new system?”

“Your Majesty! I thought of a way to collect more taxes!”

“Your Majestyyy!!”

Subjects now realized how to obtain the king’s favor.

And if humans who are somewhat smart and obtained official posts eat and only ponder every day how to make the country richer and stronger, one or so decent idea is bound to pop out.

“The newly established university is obtaining great support from the people.”

“Everyone is longing to enter the university.”

Sejong University became the wannabe of all those dreaming of rising in the world.

But cannot just recklessly build more universities.

At this time, the British military advisory group conveyed a new proposal.

“What Joseon needs most is officers and non-commissioned officer corps.”

“The officer recruitment exam Joseon is conducting is mainly focused on personal martial arts rather than virtues as commanders. For the Joseon army to become a strong army from now on must cultivate commanders.”

“Along with the university raising civil officials if there is also a university raising military officials fine.”

Thus the second university became precisely the military academy, that name also brilliant <​Hyojong University>. Since a school raising military officials how not take the name of Hyojong the symbol of Joseon dynasty generational change who filmed peerless with the green dragon crescent blade and iron mace?

Did not stop here.

“Strict yet fair trials are state affairs that touch the people’s skin more than anything so cannot neglect even for a moment. However even though legal officials are no longer miscellaneous posts scholar-officials still avoid them. Therefore abolish the legal exam and instead establish <​Seongjong University>, and call judges instead of legal officials and show that the status rose.”

“Boundless royal grace, Your Majesty.”

Three universities!

Local rural yangban who were pressed under the heavy buttocks of hardened clans until now truly went half crazy.

“My goodness, the path to rise to official posts increased several times!”

“Anyway official posts! Moreover from now on military officials and judges will definitely have bright futures!”

Absolute monarch Heonjong who saw this reaction obtained one more enlightenment.

Is there a need to give official posts necessarily?

Going up to Hanyang will soon become the path to power?

Heonjong dug up old precedents, and not long after the conclusion came out.

“Talents seeking learning and trying to come to the university are too many while the university cannot embrace all of them so I the parent of all the people am truly sad.

Pitying this and wanting to widely use hands so more people can learn, because opening a place to widely teach so the people can be edified is the monarch’s greatest duty...”

The so-called establishment of <​elementary school> and <​higher middle school>.

Natural words but Joseon is a beggar country counted even in the world so no budget, no ability to realize compulsory education for all citizens or whatever.

Moreover still the absolute majority of Joseon people were farmers, and due to the nature of farming work the more manpower the better. Even if Arthur preaches 21st century style education the court will snort saying ‘good if possible but will that work?’.

Nevertheless the reason the Joseon court established elementary schools and higher middle schools was simple.

Calling talents with potential to Hanyang in advance and teaching.

And making local clans hang their necks even more in loyalty competition over these student seats!

Same as the revival of the Goryeo era giin system, but rather scholar-officials became eyes bloodshot saying please let our children enter school so can say much more progressed. Rather local rural yangban were saying ‘increase schools too and establish royal village schools for kids under 10 too?’.

At that time the first group of Japanese exchange students including Saigo arrived in Hanyang.

“His Majesty’s holy virtue brightly illuminates Haedong, so reached sending people from Japan wanting to model us!”

“In the old days Tang had high fame for its civilization so talents of Haedong raced toward Tang. Now talents wanting to learn Joseon flock from foreign countries how say Joseon is not a country comparable to Tang?”

“How would the country stand upright this much with just me alone? If not the hard work of great and small subjects I would have done nothing.”

The king whose mood improved smilingly ordered to take good care of these first group exchange students’ convenience, and thanks to this they obtained the opportunity to observe classes of all universities.

A happy matter for everyone.

***

Day by day Hanyang is changing.

This country’s court crazy for money now began imposing tax even on water prices.

- That’s because you pulled enormous loans beyond common sense...

Ait, fuck. If made borrow money that couldn’t even be borrowed with Joseon ability even if not building Mandongmyo if blaming me use.

As Hanyang began urbanizing even faster fetching water became one problem, and aiming at this the so-called <​water seller> occupation of fetching a day’s water to each house greatly emerged.

But there was a place sensitive to water quality issues, precisely the police bureau.

“Master! That factory is spraying rotten water and the river water is becoming a mess!”

“While beating those urinating on the street why leave those guys?”

“Those are ones loyally serving the king and loving the country-”

“At this rate even high persons’ mouths will have that rotten water enter!”

“Keuheum...”

Still no Ministry of Environment and only the Ministry of Commerce, but the Ministry of Justice holding the police bureau and the Ministry of Commerce managing and supervising factories, and the Hanseong Department in charge of Hanyang immediately clashed greatly over this wastewater and Han River drinking water problem.

And the result was amazing.

“From now on to draw water from rivers or wells must have household register raised in Hanyang.”

“Water sellers must necessarily confirm the identification tag and sell water, and as much as doing business with water that is the country lord’s must pay separate tax.”

“No! My goodness!”

“Imposing tax on water!”

“Instead will prohibit those not joining your water sellers’ gathering, the water room capital house from doing water seller work. Also you have the authority to catch those polluting rivers and wells-”

“His Majesty the King long live!! Ten thousand years!!”

The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Commerce, Hanseong Department and even the Ministry of Finance that was watching the fight became happy so how not a matter where the sister is good and the brother-in-law is good.

...A matter that happened in that brief moment I was absent. Afraid to even confirm what other matters there were.

Dizzy. Where did the profound fragrance of the Way go and a world of gold supremacy came this.

- Saying such words with your mouth no words to say.

But as they say all things in the world are saeongjima.

As foreigners began increasing everywhere in Joseon... spectators decreased.

In the past Joseon where today-only-living lives dense trying to climb others’ house walls somehow to see blue-eyed foreigners once, now as foreigners gradually become common at least those stuck to our house fence decreased that much.

The ones who must be careful even of falling leaves are precisely last year privates and pregnant women, do you even know how much I worried anxiously?

“And then abandoned the pregnant woman and went to Japan?”

“No. That’s not-”

“Work is work and I am me?”

Kaaak. Since the pregnancy mood comes in cannot endure.

“Joke. Rather doing the usual work is good for the child’s health.”

Lizzy a 19th century person did not even listen to my words that must rest a bit with the back of the ear, and instead of prenatal education read Lee & Gladstone Company and Far East Colonization Joint Stock Company ledgers and mercilessly beat saying why numbers come out like this.

- But Elizabeth has no position whatsoever? Is it okay even like that?

Shareholder, shareholder.

- Even if stock just a small shareholder of a few hundred dollars...

Heum.

After a long time let’s come out once to tease this stupid livestock too.

I caught our employees who were caught by Lizzy’s dehydrator and dehydrated to the last drop of blood.

“Everyone having a hard time a lot?”

“Ah, no. Fine!”

“If a woman with no position or post in the company says put persimmons put pears you all will be a bit uncomfortable too. I will firmly warn not to do so this time-”

“No!!”

“We are receiving too much virtue from Madam Lee!”

“Ack!! Want to request even more heated guidance and encouragement from now on too!!”

- What? Why are they doing this?

Idiot.

If blocking Lizzy directly beating them will they stay still? Will do pillow talk lawsuit?

Probably by now in the employees’ heads an infinite replay of a nightmare whispering under one blanket at night ‘honey looking at this numbers matched seems embezzlement smell-’ is playing.

But that is that and this is this.

Lizzy intervening like that is definitely a matter far from principles. But if throwing a high company position to Lizzy no matter who sees will look like an attempt by me to eat the whole company.

And the reason Lizzy is tightening the company like that... is because bored. Because in Joseon women have nothing to do!

The Lizzy I know is absolutely not a person who will live a lifetime just looking at kids at home. Think how I seduced Lizzy.

- That, no matter how much look you got hooked...

And among British wives of this era who lives holding kids. All entrust kids to nannies and tutors.

Now Lizzy’s delivery day is not far, so gradually must make the next thing to do.

Then everyone will definitely become happy.

***

There was a very great difficulty in the appointment of the British minister to Joseon.

I who firmly grasped Joseon in one hand of course wanted a yes-man. What is my biggest weapon? The backing of the British Empire. If opposing leaving this both will definitely hurt too much.

But by natural logic, even to fuck Gladstone who sponsors me the opposing factions inside Britain will want to weaken even a bit my monopolistic interests in Joseon.

Until now controlled Joseon diplomacy remotely from Hong Kong, but now as a real diplomat from Britain is appointed the good days all ended.

Hoped a person who does not touch my interests comes.

“Nice to see after a long time.”

“Hahaha. Didn’t know the consul would be appointed! Ya! Tremendous high-speed success!”

“Mr. Lee who seized one country at twenty saying such words. A bit disappointed.”

“Welcome. I built the legation in Joseon in advance.”

“Yes. I also saw that part with interest. The legation construction cost... was amazing?”

Former Shanghai resident consul Rutherford Alcock (John Rutherford Alcock). Now should say consul general to Joseon.

“Joseon is still a backward country so unit price could not help but rise. I meticulously placed even one brick with items befitting the British Empire’s national prestige. The residence also built meticulously enough not to fall behind London mansions so not uncomfortable to stay, so please stay comfortably while staying.”

“Huu... thank you for the consideration.”

As Shanghai was captured by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom army Alcock in one word floated. Seems the home country evaluated him highly and just stuck him in Joseon.

If Alcock seemed not a very bad personnel selection for me either.

Since engaged as a diplomat in China for 10 years not ignorant about the Far East, also well-versed in the flow of Far East trade, a person who can know even by skin how much Joseon is changing.

If one worry that he is a personality that does not hesitate even using the army in diplomatic problems, but would there be a matter of British troops sticking into Joseon’s head again?

But my happiness circuit turned off not long after.

“Hey, President Lee.”

“Yes, Consul General.”

“Who are you working for?”

“Of course the shareholders of the Far East Colonization Company and Lee & Gladstone Company that give me salary, and the Joseon government.”

“Not bringing out the name of Her Majesty the Queen and the British Empire?”

“My patriotism says the close relationship between Joseon and Britain precisely leads the prosperity of the two countries. But I don’t even eat the British government’s salary so saying working for Britain is a bit that?”

“Well. Fine.”

Not long after appointment Alcock quickly grasped Joseon’s current situation.

Practically that I am active as the black curtain and brain of the Joseon court, and even that intertwined much deeper than others knew.

“I suddenly had this thought. When the interests of the British Empire and Joseon collide where you will work for.”

“Must not collide. Hehe.”

“Will speak directly. No matter how much the gains earned in Joseon grow hard to grow bigger than the gains obtained in Qing?”

“Unlike chaotic and hostile to foreign powers China, Joseon is much more stable and pro-British-”

“Let’s acknowledge what to acknowledge, we.”

Alcock cut my sophistry in one stroke, and I very slightly nodded.

“Qing promised us more interests.”

“With empty mouth?”

“Said will punish Joseon instead. And no matter how much think, see accepting this proposal matches our national interest.”

Will break my small and fragile money box like this? As soon as coming?

Cannot endure.

Even a mutt eats half at its own house, cannot quietly give up my rice bowl for national interest or whatever.

I slowly corrected the posture and sat, and changed the expression to a much more serious appearance.

“Will you also inform me a bit what is happening in Qing now?”

Going.

Domain expansion.

© 명원 #1jwz2

Author's note

Hello, this is Myeongwon.

Currently body condition is not very good. Planning to go to a big hospital on the 31st, meanwhile receiving treatment at the neighborhood dermatology and diligently plastering steroids all over the body but psoriasis seems to be spreading more and the whole body is itchy. Heuk heuk marriage is all gone...

Took a break to avoid stress as much as possible and take care of the body, but if not writing stress seems to arise in its own way. Planning to write bit by bit within the range that does not strain as much as possible.

(´｡• ◡ •｡`) ♡ To cute me your interest and love are the biggest medicine more than anything, so unavoidably for a while will visit readers with irregular serialization. Will return as soon as possible with good news. Thank you!