Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Invisible Threat (5)

Military State Affairs Correction Office.

The place where all of Joseon’s administration is conducted.

Prime Minister Bak Gyusu blankly stared at the dip pen (Dip Pen, steel pen) held in his hand.

If a scholar must write with the four treasures of the study, in one word brush and ink. Until recently a story that would come out ‘if not that what write with?’ beyond common sense.

But the world changed.

Joseon made paper with tree bark including paper mulberry until now.

Compared to the advantage of sturdy and good quality, the point of bad cost-performance and hard mass production caused chronic paper shortage throughout the Joseon dynasty.

But new technology was introduced from overseas.

Technology of making low-grade paper using unusable old clothes, cloth scraps, ropes, nets etc.

If old Joseon this technology would not have been used.

Because until recently Joseon where even cloth that couldn’t make even one pocket let alone clothes was circulated as small denomination currency calling two-seung cloth three-seung cloth. No matter how old and messed up cloth if that is all money who would make that into paper?

But the world changed.

As opening the port foreign calico cloth poured out.

As if waited simultaneously currency reform proceeded and naturally cloth lost its function as currency. Cloth scraps that lost value as money became paper.

Who would use such low-quality paper that can’t even write with a brush, but as soon as the postal bureau was established as if waited only for this day the masses endlessly wrote letters in hangul and sent.

Western-style ink and pens that can write even on low-quality paper sold like winged, and even those who lend writing tools for people whose all is writing letters once or twice occasionally appeared.

Moreover enormous amounts of paper were imported from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and Japan, and the West. Since paper never remains over truly business of swimming touching the ground.

The change did not stop.

As paper became cheap books increased explosively, and if a person with will for writing and learning could easily buy books just by lowering the quality of the dining table or quitting smoking and drinking.

As the civilization called <​newspaper> was introduced via Hong Kong or Shanghai, among hardened clans who only had cash households that establish newspaper companies also appeared.

The protagonist of all these changes is only one.

One drifter pushed to Joseon land over ten years ago.

No way coincidence.

For coincidence everything was prepared naturally like flowing water, and the turmoil that would naturally occur in the enlightenment process was resolved too quietly.

From where was calculation in that young man’s head?

And from now on what will change again?

At the end point of that change, what will this country Joseon become?

Bak Gyusu suddenly became afraid.

Not only the ancestral temples and altars but this country’s future sways with each move a young man in his early twenties places.

So absolutely.

Absolutely.

“So, said sell the country to you?”

“Well... that feeling?”

“Keuhahaha! Come here! You also sit on the throne once!”

Not thinking of other things looking at the dip pen because absolutely no confidence to fit that bizarre conversation.

Bak Gyusu stopped mental collapse from anguish and looked at Lee Ha-eung sitting too peacefully in place.

Right. That person is also Lee Aseul’s teacher so will have thoughts for everything.

Sending telepathy to Lee Ha-eung staring for a long time containing such feelings, finally as if his heart reached Lee Ha-eung smiled brightly and opened his mouth.

“Joseon emperor master. Since both Qing and Britain hope to change the royal surname to Lee of Lundon (London) now sit on the throne.”

Crazy bastard!

While overcoming the wicked impulse to stick the pen into Lee Ha-eung’s crown Bak Gyusu’s snout that escaped brain control chattered completely wrong sounds.

“If both Qing and Britain want to dismember this country Joseon how can this country endure? Why if Lord Aseul just closes eyes tightly obtains everything?”

As Arthur turned his head and looked at him only then came to his senses.

Too direct.

‘Why don’t you eat this country’. Not even words a politician let alone a scholar would say. Became wanting to enter even a rat hole from shame.

However Arthur instead of mocking or laughing at this absurd question grinned.

“Even if I become Joseon governor general or Joseon duke or whatever, impossible to obtain this country’s people’s hearts. Regardless of East or West such people can only protect their power with violence, and the end was one and all miserable.”

“...”

“Leaving all that, isn’t there one knight like Jing Ke in this country?”

“Of course. And how. Better just being my friend than trembling all life fearing assassination! If money will give as much as wanted, just don’t covet the throne!”

“Your Majesty. Words a bit...”

After one round of laughter flower party passed, those seated began discussing seriously again.

“Why did Britain become so cautious suddenly after burning Beijing a while ago?”

“Because not much left than thought. Hard to reap profits even warring in the Far East opposite the home country than thought. Moreover war with Russia also entered countdown... for a while Britain won’t want large-scale armed clashes occurring in the Far East.”

Britain no longer wants unrestrained expansion.

Russia is not a neighborhood thug, to wage war with such a huge country of course must catch breath for a while.

“Qing talked about 10 years later, then just throw a blank check once and change words later fine?”

“If doing that hard to preserve those interests too.”

“If beating with force-”

“That’s all money, money.”

While everyone deeply immersed in thought, Minister of Finance Kim Heunggeun opened his mouth.

“Must improve relations with Qing.”

“Is that a sound that makes sense?”

“But what helps finances most in this country is anyway red ginseng. Cannot keep inserting Geumseong Sanghoe and playing blind man’s bluff forever. In a state where trade with Qing is blocked even paying loan interest is tight!”

Kim Heunggeun bringing out somewhat realistic stories perhaps because sitting in a position handling money.

Among those in this seat no one wanted war with Qing.

War.

Moreover a great war where the safety of the ancestral temples and altars hangs.

Must do someday, but want to do after raising the win rate as much as possible. If doing right now whether win or lose will obviously be dragged to the path of national ruin.

Bak Gyusu opened his mouth regarding it fortunate that there is a realistic person inside.

“Minister of Finance. Everyone knows that is difficult. So how about putting out a somewhat possible plan.”

“Let’s sell opium too.”

Ah.

Fuck.

No way the Andong Kim is a sane bastard.

“Anyway China now opium became legal and cannot even crack down. The country determinedly grows opium and sells at cheap prices. Then can suck Qing’s silver while making Qing a mess so precisely making allies full with the enemy’s military provisions-”

“Stop.”

“The ancestral temples and altars are at a critical moment how only walk the right path! Sometimes there are times must choose expedient!”

“Opium won’t make much money. Since legalized now Chinese people will all overturn fields and cultivate opium?”

“Eum... right...”

Because opium is bad, not but because opium won’t make money! How far is this country Joseon’s Way trying to be driven into the mud!

After muttering for a long time they finally prepared one plan, and decided to send an envoy group to Qing for this.

“I will go.”

“You?”

“Even if not Joseon people I have British nationality.”

At Arthur’s words no one could refute.

Next Arthur immediately headed to the British legation again.

Anyway.

This country needed him.

***

British Consul General Alcock could not hide brief bewilderment at Arthur who appeared again’s words.

“Going to Qing?”

“Yes. And I still want to work for Britain’s interests. This matter will also benefit Britain.”

“Will speak in detail?”

Arthur spoke very concisely.

“Cannot trust Qing.”

“Well inferior countries are always like that but-”

“Not that story. As long as all power is with Prince Gong Qing has the power to make promises into toilet paper anytime.”

Will give interests?

Really will only fill political diplomatic prestige in Joseon?

How to believe that.

“Power that is not checked always runs wild. We must somehow create an opposing faction to Prince Gong and entrust them the role of opposition party.”

“Ruling and opposition cooperation...”

“Let’s think easily. Only by showing that we, the British Empire can switch to another Qing power holder instead of Prince Gong if something happens will Prince Gong keep the promise. Must not leave Qing weighing the British Empire and other powers, and must catch the position of us weighing other places and choosing Prince Gong.”

Even to Alcock’s ears not wrong words. Because Chinese people always stabbed in the back if something happens.

“What benefit does that become to you and Joseon? No matter how much think even if Prince Gong’s political enemy hostility to Joseon will be the same?”

“Exactly those words.”

Joseon’s defection approaches as a serious threat element to Qing’s survival.

If a human with common sense in Qing no way will chatter stupid sounds like pro-Joseon.

“But if political position is different and position is different, can buy even a little time in between.”

“Heuum...”

“10 years. In Joseon words time for mountains and rivers to change, the home country’s political landscape and foreign policy will also change several times, and no one knows what appearance Qing will become.”

So in the meantime things to tear more overflow.

“If there is someone considering as opposition party want to hear opinions.”

Once Alcock showed a positive reaction.

Not because he pitied Joseon, but because cannot give the initiative of diplomacy to Qing or whatever.

If Arthur is thinking of playing some tricks and that connects to the British Empire’s interests, no particular reason to stop.

“Conservatives.”

“Weren’t they already purged?”

“Nevertheless the continent is vast and conservatives are scattered everywhere. Prince Gong is shouting reform and enlightenment, but those who believe in traditional values and are hostile to foreign powers are still many. If just giving them a very small spark hard to seize the regime but can sufficiently play the role of opposition party.”

Still they will lack power.

“Who planning to elevate as leader.”

“Prince Gong’s younger brother, Prince Chun. In an absolute monarchy the emperor’s younger brother always must worry about life, so if wanting to live long without illness must form one faction he will also shake at those words.”

“Need separate help?”

“Just lay the bridge.”

“Will send a telegram.”

Arthur bowed his head expressing thanks, but inside harbored other thoughts.

‘Prince Chun or whatever can never defeat Prince Gong.’

From the beginning if Prince Chun had that much ability would have inserted into the successor competition in the Daoguang Emperor’s time. Being young is just an excuse.

Political ability enough to confront Prince Gong.

Agility enough to rally conservatives and oppose enlightenment.

While doing so excellent idiot power enough to drive Qing’s stock price to the lower limit.

Just in Qing there is the best talent verified by the original history.

One of the Xianfeng Emperor’s concubines, Consort Yi.

Now just a concubine no one will pay attention to, but this concubine precisely becomes the final winner who destroys Prince Gong and grasps the great empire.

Yes.

Full buy Empress Dowager Cixi coin even before listing!

If just helping a bit.

If just putting a very little strength.

That heroine will head to the top of power even if making the country into hell.

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