Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Great Upheaval (3)

Joseon Kingdom, Hanyang.

British Legation to Joseon.

“Lost?”

“Shh. Lower the voice.”

At Consul General Alcock’s restraint Daniel Lee instead of shouting ‘fucking idiots’ looked around.

Because that appearance was unmistakably the ferocious Anglo-Saxon itself looking for something to smash, and because he himself who first heard the news showed the same reaction Alcock quickly took out brandy and handed it to him.

When the body hurts, or when the mind is confused brandy is an extremely correct medical prescription.

Daniel who received this prescription immediately blew the bottle horn.

Otherwise seems double curses will burst from inside.

The Anglo-French allied fleet of 6 ships that departed to occupy Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky the small pioneer village of Kamchatka.

About 2,000 marines and sailors occupying this small village is truly eating cold porridge.

However failed.

All sorts of filthy excuses like the Petropavlovsk port terrain was extremely dirty, places where coastal guns are camped are hard to pierce came out but the conclusion was one.

“How idiotically fought to-”

“If recklessly saying such words outside will fight among ourselves before fighting Russians.”

“Going crazy.”

There is a fact everyone knows.

Daniel is a parachute.

The reason such him seized a position not matching his fraction in Joseon is two.

First because he is the only older brother of <​friend of Joseon people and the Joseon king> Arthur Lee and second because the British Empire’s momentum covers the sky.

But lost?

Not even failing the siege waging a desperate battle at a fortress like Sevastopol or something but the world’s British Empire army unable to capture a village hut (or not)?

“Joseon might defect-”

“That doesn’t make sense. My younger brother is there.”

Just as Alcock was about to open his mouth, Daniel suddenly accelerated enough to be rude.

“As long as my younger brother is there, can tie up worries about Joseon.”

“Still young so might not know, but rather might have to worry about losing power.”

“Stop nonsense a bit, Consul General. Are the redcoats in Yongsan perhaps toy soldiers?”

As Daniel spun his wrist round and round cracking sounds echoed.

“A guy born on the same ship as me but that guy is a truly vicious guy. If seems I will be chased out will immediately run to Yongsan and occupy the palace dragging the army saying ‘must rescue His Majesty the King from treacherous subjects’.”

“...”

“Joseon is our firm ally. As long as we brothers are there that fact will not change.”

Alcock nodded.

In an absolute monarchy the important thing is not position or rank or whatever but the king’s favor.

As long as these brothers are closely approaching Joseon’s interests and power, the British Empire’s influence will not shake.

“So, may I ask the reason you brought out this story to me directly?”

“The allied forces that failed occupation are scheduled to come to Joseon.”

“That won’t do.”

Daniel who was fuck fuck until a little while ago immediately became serious.

“Joseon not betraying and public sentiment shaking are completely different problems! Just go to Vancouver!”

“To Vancouver is 3,200 miles (about 5,100 kilometers) and to Joseon’s Jemulpo is only 2,400 miles (about 3,800 kilometers). That Jemulpo is more rational is a natural thing.”

“Jemulpo won’t do. If going to calculate that rationality rather send to Wonsan or Dongnae. No need to go around the peninsula once and much closer.”

Daniel acquired one wisdom of life in Joseon life short if short long if long.

That is precisely... Joseon people are very starving for gossip.

If thinking Joseon people’s new hobby life is seeing newspapers and chewing someone and chattering gossip with letters actually not Wonsan but wherever those defeated soldiers come the rumor will spread thickly in 3 days, but anyway still will buy time to tidy public sentiment.

“Still no decent dock in Wonsan-”

“Think there is in Jemulpo? If the ship is the problem must go to Hong Kong.”

Had a tug of war but cannot help it. Already the expedition is coming toward Joseon.

“And there is one more matter to request.”

“There is more?”

Alcock instead of confronting this headache rookie immediately entered the main point.

“Must input Joseon sepoys.”

“If sending those guys really all die.”

“Must do the money’s worth. Aren’t mercenaries there to be used as cannon fodder?”

“East India Company army of course needs the company’s order- damn.”

Seeing Alcock take out documents clearly an order instead of answering Daniel shut his mouth.

“Still words left?”

“...Suggest troop reinforcement.”

“That’s not words to me but to the company?”

Look at immediately returning.

“Seems will get busy so will withdraw now.”

Daniel immediately stood from the seat.

Head hurts.

The shit those stupid guys made is flowing back and pushing up to Hanyang.

Daniel immediately decided to use the genie of the lamp.

[Younger brother we are fucked]

The moment the telegram damp with humidity was sent to China.

***

Securing a base in Shanghai was also a somewhat important matter to me.

This Shanghai was occupied by friends called the Small Swords Society different rebels from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom raising a rebellion. What kind of rebels are so many.

- Because end of the world.

Acknowledge. Current China is truly worthy of being called the end of the law world.

But just because Shanghai fell into the rebels’ hands a foreigner execution party did not immediately occur.

Whether Taiping Heavenly Kingdom or Small Swords Society Jiangnan side people all watched the majesty of the Anglo-French allied forces that made the Qing army into porridge in the last Opium War, and of course no gutsy guy trying to invade the concession that is practically their land appeared.

Not only that.

If Westerners coming all the way to this Shanghai mostly all merchants, from the beginning guys who even sold opium can’t sell weapons? Guys who do anything if only give money so from the rebels’ position how sweet these Western merchants <​if only give money give weapons>.

Therefore I the president of Lee & Gladstone Company must also contribute to increasing the company’s sales. I must also sell weapons.

And one more.

As the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebels rampaged, that famous <​Jingdezhen> became ashes.

- Ah...

Perhaps the jar the jar ghost was contained in was also made there? If there is hometown love or such-

- No way there is!

Heum. That’s not.

Jingdezhen is a porcelain paradise established in the Song dynasty, roughly early 1000s AD and endlessly making only porcelain ever since.

Cannot understand what those Taiping Heavenly Kingdom guys who smashed such a place were thinking, but anyway the kilns of Jingdezhen said to reach 10,000 were all smashed. Perhaps destroying old heritage is Chinese kids’ hobby.

“Looking for porcelain craftsmen?”

“If there are people who fled introduce to me Arthur Lee. Will reward generously.”

Here formed a tag with Joseon merchants.

When received the obituary of Im Sangok the heart sank, but Joseon great merchants instead of immediately splitting into four and five and holding a cannibalism festival tearing and killing each other promised to advance toward a strong great country matching the leadership of the great scholar Arthur Lee.

Well what can Joseon merchants do.

All sorts of ships of rivers and seas were all snatched by me, red ginseng monopoly rights are now mine, and the peddlers who were not even a snort to those great merchants in an instant entered under the postal bureau and ate the country’s salary and shoulders soared to the sky.

Moreover those guys already knew that if selling red ginseng in Chinese Jiangnan the price jumps several times, but still trade between Joseon and Qing is in a severed state so must go through British sanghoe. One way or another those guys cannot help but be subordinate to me for a while.

And no matter who sees now was a very good opportunity.

As of 1854, Joseon’s porcelain technology has declined quite a lot.

The majority of the people overwhelmingly use brassware, that is brass bowls a lot and yangban evaluate Qing or Japanese porcelain much higher. No, even the porcelain the royal family uses are all made in China?

Now that Jingdezhen became ashes, if bringing the craftsmen of old Jingdezhen and producing porcelain domestically before Western porcelain is imported in earnest will definitely become a great filial product.

And to complete the last mission, I headed alone to the bustling Huangpu River in Shanghai.

Designated place.

Designated date.

Designated small boat.

“Teacher. Dropped the wallet.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I ‘accidentally’ dropped the wallet, and a shabby-looking man picked up the wallet and handed it to me.

“Would have been troubled if lost, will give a bit of reward.”

“No. Reward!”

“There briefly-”

While arguing about giving money or not like that, the man approached smoothly and whispered in my ear.

“The great person decided to follow the teacher’s advice.”

“...”

“Thank you. May the Supreme Deity protect.”

“Will help a lot from now on too.”

Done.

Shi Dakai said to be the most famous general in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom decided to move for <​entering Shu> according to my advice.

If the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s famous general holes up in the Sichuan region and decides on self-reliance hold meta who can easily suppress the rebels.

Of course Sichuan has the difficulty of hard to receive foreign help, but that British people crazy for money will somehow do. I firmly believe in their money worship spirit.

I whose tension was released immediately returned to the lodging.

“Fuck.”

Only then realized the wallet was really gone. Definitely dropped the wallet while doing the show earlier.

Fine even if lose money, but because there were a few notes inside that would be troublesome if others see I first gathered people and all returned together to the area contacted earlier.

“Perhaps saw dropping a wallet here?”

“Ah. The wallet owner!”

Just as our group came to the Huangpu River bank again and tried to inquire about the wallet.

A shabby-looking boy approached me and smoothly handed something. Definitely my wallet.

“Shouted dropped the wallet but couldn’t hear and went busily so couldn’t catch.”

“Now a full half day has passed... waiting from then until now?”

“Yes!”

I took out the wallet and confirmed everything was in place without missing one.

“You, what is the name?”

“Me? I am called Ye Chengzhong...”

- Catch. Jackpot. No, a big one!

This, a story heard in China.

An anecdote entangled with China’s legendary businessman.

The boy who picked up a Western merchant’s wallet and returned it.

“Living here? Family?”

“Orphan... came here to make a living and doing servant work...”

“With the money here enough to change fate?”

Oops.

Threw too straight a ball at the person who found the wallet.

“Just return to the owner fine no need to look at the contents.”

“Heo.”

I briefly stroked the chin.

“Needed a reliable errand boy, perhaps no thought of leaving here with me?”

“M, me? I am just, just doing odd jobs at the general store in front.”

“Already obtained my trust. That is enough. If saying Lee Aseul quite famous even under heaven-”

“Teacher is that Lee Aseul great person? Will follow! If only let me do will do anything!”

I am grateful.

As expected if living doing good deeds heaven bestows virtue.

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