Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Sinophile Arthur Lee (5)

In the old days just a barbarian merchant daring to look at the (practical) owner of the Middle Kingdom itself would have been a crime to die.

But as a result of two Opium Wars, he instead of standing on a high platform looking down at me kneeling was facing a teacup at a private table.

I concentrated nerves as much as possible wanting to pierce Prince Gong’s face, the twitching of facial muscles below that and the desire even more inside.

And.

Prince Gong seemed sincere.

“I am just a Western merchant and not the caliber to dare receive an official post of the Middle Kingdom. Your Highness wanting to obtain a thousand-li horse and buying the thousand-li horse’s bones with a thousand gold this lowly small person can also sufficiently gauge, but if using me rather the thousand-li horses buried in the countryside will regard unpleasantly and not come out.”

I have a story I heard before.

A Communist Party cadre’s son whose house money was rotting overflowing established an IT company, and after pondering no talent in the company entrusted headhunting to the HR manager.

But the HR manager brought one miscellaneous guy from somewhere giving a huge annual salary.

‘Among many people why picked such a guy?’

‘This is precisely <​buying the thousand-li horse’s bones with a thousand gold>. Now applicants will line up so don’t worry.’

Sure enough, the rumor spread thickly ‘such a guy receives that annual salary?’ and the continent’s talented people applied one after another and the company soon completed the targeted talent supply.

- Impressive story. But you were in sales? Had occasion to meet an IT company HR manager?

Let’s say that later. Must concentrate now.

“You now proved your own value yourself.”

While I was recalling old days like that, greed gradually began to form in Prince Gong’s eyes.

“How many among Westerners know the anecdote of buying dead horse bones.”

“If looking will be quite many. Missionaries or-”

“Missionaries are precisely ones who cannot be used recklessly. From the beginning heard you greatly raised studying abroad in Western countries at a young age and that fame pierces the sky a great Confucian. Those who despise such a person as Westerner of course must be filtered.”

How can this be. I was a great Confucian. Not Lizzy but me? Swaying-

“As I heard you extremely guard against the East being invaded by the West. If those words are not false, also well know that to protect the East above all China must stand upright.”

“Right words.”

“Then why hesitating? Receive the official post. Will grant the power to transfer your convictions and beliefs to state affairs. If succeeding this country’s Self-Strengthening and Qing can confront Western countries naturally Eastern peace will also be achieved isn’t it obvious?”

Prince Gong who stood up abruptly walked to the bookshelf with heavy steps then pulled out a few books and threw them on the table.

<​Japan Strategy>, <​Arthur’s Drift>, <​English-Chinese Dictionary> of course and even some of the Confucian classics I translated.

“Read the writings you wrote carefully.”

“If this small person’s poor writing disturbed the precious person’s mind-”

“No. Well-written writing.”

He said pointing at <​Japan Strategy> with a finger.

“Because wrote too well the hair stood on end. Because a future that can sufficiently be realized became afraid. Therefore, became wanting to make mine necessarily. Instead of you returning to Joseon like this and making guns and swords aiming at Qing wouldn’t it be much better to add strength to Qing’s revival.”

[You in <​Japan Strategy> say crush Qing, and here going around saying completely different words?]

[<​Japan Strategy> is not sincere? Right? Will work in Qing for Eastern peace?]

Prince Gong’s design is visible.

If I say here <​Japan Strategy> is my true intention immediately become a corpse or imprison or use the Middle Kingdom’s secret art, make disappear.

Meaning while pretending to highly evaluate me essentially catch and keep.

Eum. Has an eye for seeing. Recognizing an SSS-grade talent like me. Joseon guys don’t know I’m precious and always just tease.

But saying if cannot have will break. I if forcing am pure love preference not obsession preference. A Final Destination life trembling waiting for the discard after use ending that will come someday is even more declined.

“Even I who only go between this residence and the Forbidden City well heard that after you went to Joseon those guys are prospering day by day. Already proved in a weak country like Joseon that you are a talent assisting the king, now to realize your great cause isn’t it proper to come to Qing?”

At this rate really will work in the Forbidden City.

Once let’s flinch once.

“I just as a merchant wanted to realize my profits, and did not particularly intervene in Joseon’s state affairs. The reason Joseon seems to be prospering is first because that country was originally too poor, and second because there were wise subjects beside the enthusiastic Joseon king.”

“No way. The fact that the sanghoe you lead established brilliant merits in Joseon’s Self-Strengthening is a fact all under heaven know. Surely everyone’s eyes are all knot holes?”

Failure. Didn’t even expect this would work.

“Even if I decide to come out, already the world’s eyes that I was hostile to Qing how can I be trusted? Already suspicion sprouted in several hearts so I dare hard to serve Your Highness.”

Words are the world’s eyes, in reality ‘you are suspecting’.

Prince Gong also of course understood.

“You said a little while ago yourself just one merchant. Said not even eating the Joseon king’s salary. Isn’t that so.”

“Yes...”

“Heard Westerners’ custom is working for the employer as long as receiving salary. Said worked for your profits so even better. Qing can give profits as much as wanted.”

[You said with your mouth not serving the Joseon king as lord? Good!]

[If wealth will give as much as wanted so come over.]

[Just an employment contract so life not dangerous either. No power desire? Even if problem later take money and return to Britain ends! Even so not signing?]

Even young a tiger is a tiger. The form of casting a net tightly and gradually pulling is not ordinary.

- Hearing... just working also not bad?

What. Brutus, you too?!

- Anyway if your goal is making money doing a position in Qing is much better. Remember what our purpose is? Struggling to make money here was ultimately to seize Britain’s regime.

Not wrong words.

If I seize a position like Qing foreign minister history might change again. <​Qing’s survival> is definitely an enormous great transformation of history.

But uneasy.

- Working under enemy-like Chinese bastards?

I am not such a petty person.

Remember the HR manager story earlier? Asked where met?

- Yes.

That HR manager shared the same room with me in the detention center.

- Ah.

Unfortunately the HR manager who offended the president’s mood ate as much as the industry standard others eat and using that as an excuse became my cellmate.

The lesson of this story is precisely don’t show off in an absolute monarchy country where the law does not work according to the law. Too vivid doesn’t it give goosebumps?

Even if problem just return home fine? Really so?

Joseon is a too too weak country so must watch Britain’s eyes. Even if Britain does not militarily invade just wielding the loans held Joseon will immediately transform into a banana kingdom?

But China is so big in size no possibility of slicing me and splitting the belly.

- Well... somehow that seems an excuse.

Ignore the noisy jar livestock. Now the important thing is Prince Gong.

“Your Highness evaluating this small person this highly, truly don’t know where to put the body.”

“Serving a sage is the foundation of all state affairs. Now ready to receive the official post?”

A winner’s smile gradually spread on his face.

“Sorry but cannot.”

But sorry. The answer is refusal.

Because one of the things this Arthur Lee likes most is precisely the matter of saying NO and refusing to a guy who thinks himself strong!

“Still remaining things to discuss in detail? Ohora. From the beginning you were only thinking of refusing! Only thought of tearing Qing’s flesh!”

The young royal wounded from being refused even after showing such courtesy now did not hide anger.

So I don’t want to go to absolute monarchies. Because the absolute monarch’s rage completely ignores all gains and losses. Truly incompatible with a guy like me walking a tightrope on the line.

“I have not a bit of thought of wanting to collapse Qing.”

“Then prove! By working for Qing!”

“Although I did not receive any country’s salary, because have not yet repaid all the debt owed to Joseon cannot leave them.”

“...Debt?”

He instantly withdrew the anger. As expected a politician’s seed different from the sprout.

“Yes. If Your Highness also read this book believe will understand.”

I took out <​Arthur’s Drift> that was under <​Japan Strategy>, and the young politician immediately realized what I was trying to say and groaned.

“Joseon people who welcomed the boy who lost all blood relatives warmly welcomed me with the king and ministers. They bestowed utmost sincerity beyond measure feeding, clothing, sleeping, and even giving teachings.”

“...Keueung.”

He did not bring out vulgar sounds like ‘Chinese people also saved?’. Because if tried such sounds immediately a counter like ‘Ah. China. Lived as pirates’ slaves.’ would fly so much better not to.

Tried to appoint because governed the country with Confucianism and widely spread that Confucianism to the West, but appealing to human relations and grace the strongest justification more than anything even if Prince Gong’s grandfather comes the logic to refute is poor.

All done.

With this one counter gathered and gathered energy can escape that sticky courtship dance.

Having seized the momentum I bowed the head even more and forcibly squeezed juice from the eyes. Felt a thin stream of tears slowly flowing down following my precious face.

“Making Qing rich and strong and blocking the West’s invasion and realizing Eastern peace isn’t this also a path of repaying the grace Joseon bestowed...?”

Ugly ugly Yixin!

The most orthodox move here is ‘Arthur Lee you are truly a true gentleman!’ and praising me a lot and ending this conversation. If poked and the fork doesn’t go in quickly pretend never touched the tableware.

Still young so. Wasteful to put all the effort put in until now into the trash can.

But we decided to call this ‘sunk cost’. In 21st century MZ terms also called cutting losses.

“That also does not match propriety.”

“Why.”

“Because there is a person who came looking for this small person first and said needed me, if I have propriety must work for that person.”

“Prince Chun is also strictly a royal, so this is ultimately not different.”

Chattering words even himself won’t believe. The sunk cost is increasing more and more.

Looking at Prince Gong who realized himself showing an ugly appearance and became soft like glutinous rice cake, the desire to work a bit more welled up bubbling inside me. Grr, can’t endure Yixin!

“I dare cannot accept Your Highness’s request. Presumptuously, can I have the honor of offering bitter words for Your Highness?”

“If cannot welcome a sage at least must listen carefully to that sage-like advice. Speak.”

“Your Highness can absolutely not succeed.”

Prince Gong’s poker face hit by a straight to the solar plexus collapsed and astonishment filled that place.

“The end of the path Your Highness is walking is only destruction.”

And I am a guy who hits again where hit.

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