Chapter 85 · 9 min
Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Friend or Foe Identification (5)
The French Second Empire newly entered in the place that collapsed the French Second Republic.
The newly ascended emperor Louis Napoleon, Napoleon III as a dictator of modern society, had to submit an answer for the first time in human history about how a dictator of the new era should seize and maintain power.
And he excellently submitted the answer befitting Napoleon’s nephew.
“The glory of great France! Once more under the name of Napoleon!”
Nationalism and nationalism.
“Until when must waste time only doing demos and useless protests? I will organize all! Will return stability and peace to French people!”
Order and stability instead of disorder, chaos.
“I will revive the economy with strong leadership! The rice worm lawmakers who fought in the parliament day after day couldn’t but this emperor can!”
Even the pledge to revive the economy and attacks on the existing political circles.
The action guidelines of dictators that will bloom all over the world were practically almost all established by Napoleon III personally as a prototype pioneer no exaggeration. This system that later people commonly call <developmental dictatorship> succeeded, and Napoleon III defeated all challengers.
Now the emperor had to produce results.
Overturned the country and even became emperor saying will revive the economy if cannot revive the economy getting chased out is basic and life is in danger. On top of that must occasionally charge nationalism and elevate loyalty to great France.
And surprisingly.
Until now all matters were progressing smoothly as if sails full in fair wind all well.
“Your Majesty. From Joseon-”
“Joseon? What happened there?”
As soon as hearing the word Joseon the emperor’s eyes flashed open.
That mysterious country in the East widely known to Europeans through that famous <Arthur’s Drift>, that revered morality and made philosophy the ruling ideology.
If up to here, a rational French person would have just passed saying so. Because they are not Anglo-Saxons starving for blood and violence.
If a Parisian with thorough economic sense or enjoying adventurous investment might have asked questions like ‘does that country have specialties?’ or ‘what is Joseon’s geopolitical advantage?’ like people who saw a boa that swallowed an elephant. While carefully examining what value that country called Joseon has and how appetizing.
But from a while after concluding a treaty of amity and commerce with that small country, those guys occasionally administered dopamine into French people’s chests as if intentional.
[Far East border country Joseon Kingdom, decided to adopt the ‘most scientific and rational’ metric system units!]
[His Majesty the Emperor today ordered to produce and send the metric system prototype for the Joseon Kingdom. Also His Majesty will send excellent scholars to Joseon-]
[Joseon Kingdom, declares complete suspension of Catholic persecution!]
[Joseon Kingdom, petitions the Holy See for the beatification of French Bishop Imbert!]
[Joseon Kingdom, raises Napoleon the Great’s nameplate in the hall enshrining the greatest king!]
[French Empire military advisory group, scheduled to be dispatched to strengthen Joseon army capabilities!]
[First Joseon French international students arrive within next year!]
“Keee!!”
“Barmaid, give one glass of wine here!!”
“French Empire long live! His Majesty the Emperor long live!”
“Since His Majesty governs the country even Asians in that distant place began to look up to us. Is this really simply coincidence? Because His Majesty pulled France up from the hell-like swamp!”
French people realized can get drunk even without drinking wine. They learned patriotism in a few lines of nationalism news and got drunk on patriotism.
Occasionally tactless guys chattered candle-inserting sounds like ‘isn’t it strange to enshrine Napoleon the Great in a pagan temple?’, but such guys were definitely impure thought republican red traitors from the beginning. Even foreigners with little connection to France ten thousand li away admire Napoleon the Great yet such words come out now?
Napoleon III befitting a person who became emperor from bare hands did not just quietly watch such a windfall.
“Since I governed the country France is prospering day by day!”
“Great France, the recovery of that beautiful banner!”
“We do not fatten our bellies by exploiting foreign countries like other countries! We are widely spreading the revolutionary spirit, the ideology of liberty and equality to the whole world!”
If he was born in the 21st century might have been a perfect entertainer.
No matter what surprise script came out he smoothly accepted, and always led Joseon’s surprise praise to the result of rising his approval rating. Perhaps his calling was a pro wrestler.
However this matter was a bit different.
“Said the Joseon king visited the cathedral built with our France’s financial aid.”
“Heu, heuheu. Heuheuheuheu!! Heuheuheuheuheu!!!”
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!!”
“Heuhahahaha!!”
Of course the Joseon king did not participate in mass, nor suddenly received baptism, and to the end only met his people and threw a few words of encouragement.
But what does that matter?
“Instruct all media. Until those who beheaded missionaries’ necks worship missionaries, how much great effort this French Empire put in let all citizens, no all world people know and chatter!”
“But Joseon is under Britain’s influence. If moving too excessively might stimulate Britain, Your Majesty.”
“But didn’t article reports come out a while ago? British people if China invades Joseon intend to condone it? Protecting a weak country that trusted island country pirate bastards and got hit in the back of the head is the duty of a civilized person.”
Louis said shamelessly.
Honestly practically abandoned by themselves, if saying something just because picking up a bit that is truly thief’s heart.
However he did not completely ignore reality and roll a flower garden head hahahoho. Obvious Britain will not completely abandon influence in Joseon.
“Must of course bestow a helping hand our France to Joseon people taking the lead in the struggle with Russia. So they do not depend only on Britain too much, give appropriate support.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
If Joseon falls to protectorate status of the pirate country overnight this is also a matter of the great French Empire’s prestige being damaged.
Folded the thought of eating Joseon long ago.
Just fine if not rising on Britain’s table.
Although Britain and France allied and fighting Russia right now, not doing a matter that can feed Britain without using much power is a matter not French-like at all.
[Joseon king, converts to Catholicism!]
[Catholic Church great victory!]
[Joseon that chose Catholicism instead of ugly Protestantism... true faith is proven!]
And after going through the hands of yellow press.
The rumor was distorted in all directions.
***
“Your Majesty!! Your Majesty!!!”
Suddenly Alcock’s anger rose.
This frail unmatched uncivilized country monarch, in appearance a monarch played with the British Empire?
“Ah. Consul General. Welcome.”
“If interested in the church should have said in advance. The Anglican Church says always waiting only for Your Majesty to grace.”
“Hehehe. Not particularly interested in that Yaso teaching. Those called Catholicism are close to traitors under this country’s law? Since I personally met them believe they will also devote to this country with loyal heart.”
Heonjong flatly refused Alcock’s recommendation and clearly conveyed the position <this is a domestic problem not a religious problem>.
“Of course! That Huang guy made the Catholic Church a means to reveal his rebellious heart so truly a villain comparable to Judas Iscariot. If an ordinary monarch treating all Catholics as traitors would have nothing to say, but Your Majesty embraced the subjects with broad mercy so truly Joseon’s great fortune!”
“Hahaha. Thank you. Is His Majesty the French Emperor well?”
“Since Your Majesty takes care this much of course well.”
The French consul general where threw the white person’s dignity or grace into the Seine River, at this point seemed would look like a merchant not a diplomat.
“And there is one more happy news. Recently the financial street in Paris is evaluating Joseon very highly. Since His Majesty knows the Joseon court’s efforts very well, so can newly receive loans at the cheapest interest rate as much as possible-”
Why are these damned baguette bastards gradually extending feet without even looking at the place to lie! If Alcock was a martial artist all the qi and blood of the whole body’s meridians would have twisted and vomited about three mal of blood and still left.
The Joseon king and subjects too.
The gaze toward him completely changed.
‘Damn. Topics that can immediately suppress if only a hundred redcoats.’
Did he somewhere say sell Joseon to Qing? Just said the commonsensical words that must keep Qing’s interests in mind.
However the guys in China all feigning ignorance. Blaming others.
Even in the home country one and all locking the mouth I don’t know.
Smelled the smell of taking the blame alone.
But cannot quietly take the blame alone and get dismissed. Because overcoming such a crisis is the law of succeeding greatly.
Alcock who returned to the legation without achieving great results despite meeting the Joseon king.
What waiting for him was other tasks.
“Consul General. Protest from the Anglican Church side-”
“Why protest to me that the Joseon king went to the Catholic church!”
“Ah. Not that matter.”
“Then...?”
“Said donations greatly decreased after Arthur Lee left. But that, the Anglican Church.”
In Hanyang’s social circles and foreigner clubs the theory that Alcock drove Arthur out was already floating like established theory.
No Westerner living overseas can stay away from clergy, so naturally as the Anglican Church that lost Arthur the biggest hand complaints would come out.
“Not donating just because one Arthur Lee left? No matter what Lee & Gladstone Company remains as is.”
“Now the one holding the real power of that sanghoe is Madam Lee. Madam Lee greatly reduced the donations going to the Anglican Church and instead increased donations to the Quaker side she believes.”
“Couple causing a fuss in pairs.”
Alcock who repeatedly pondered pondering for a long time while drinking tea opened his mouth only after the tea all cooled.
“Seems, must correct these Asians’ manners.”
“How, saying.”
“Seems forgot the fact that they lost in war, and as the price became subordinate to us. Must find a suitable justification, and imprint once more who is the superior.”
No need to go to war. If the redcoats just do a bit of shooting training the Hanyang atmosphere will immediately become a mess.
When Alcock who concluded himself to use hardline measures was looking for some excuse.
Joseon moved first.
[The truth of Lee Aseul public’s return!!]
[British people trying to sell Joseon to Qing! Lee Aseul public who confronted this!]
[British queen conferred the Joseon governor position on Lee Aseul but refused!]
[This public’s integrity that did not abandon Joseon even in harsh persecution and hardship shines in history]
Bang!!
“What on earth are these damned articles!!”
“Our Joseon is a civilized country so takes pride in not blocking the path of speech.”
Foreign Minister Lee Ha-eung smiled and stopped smiling and scratched his mind.
“These things called yellow press flowed in from Hong Kong and before knowing profiteers began printing arbitrarily, we also the heart wanting to catch all is like a chimney but extremely elusive so truly hard to catch.”
“Suspend all publications! Correction report! If such absurd sounds float around the market like truth the friendly good neighborliness of Britain and Joseon two countries collapses!”
“Will try.”
Lee Ha-eung who had no thought of trying at all chattered empty words.
A month before Alcock got cut.
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Author's note
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