Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Four People’s Signatures (2)

The Indian rebellion unfolded on a scale exceeding the imagination of British people who had become numb from frequent rebellions and suppressions until now.

Right after the rebellion, Delhi the capital of the Mughal Empire and one of the most important cities in India was captured.

British officers commanding the sepoys were executed in a row, and the sepoys who raised the rebellion tried not to mercilessly massacre civilians but had no mercy at all toward Christian converts.

Countless foreigners lost their lives, and some lucky ones barely escaped Delhi. Planned massacres did not occur but the huge city Delhi was plundered by those holding weapons.

As if waiting many sepoys changed.

And as these turned the guns backwards, the poor and tenant farmers suffering from the East India Company’s merciless oppression and exploitation all rose at once.

The flame of rebellion rose in all directions across the huge Indian continent, and Britain felt a sense of crisis as if about to be expelled from India for the first time in history.

Then what must do?

[India destroyer Dalhousie!]

[Dalhousie, gave birth to a huge disaster!]

[How he drove countless British people to death!]

Must do politics.

Must do a guillotine match over where the cause of this great rebellion is and who must take responsibility.

“Knew when Dalhousie implemented short-sighted policies! This was a foretold disaster!”

“What problem is trying to treat Indians well? Only the fact that those are closer to beasts than humans was revealed, hanging on the proud national flag of the British Empire he committed no mistakes whatsoever!”

Dalhousie’s appointment as governor general was a ‘non-political’ decision. He tried to avoid his appointment being seen as a specific party’s victory as much as possible.

But even doing so the fact that Dalhousie was a Conservative Party member did not disappear pop.

Especially the ruling Peelite-Whig coalition government had to attack Dalhousie somehow to avoid responsibility for this rebellion. The East India Company was the same.

Conversely speaking the Conservative Party also had fire fall on the instep.

“Said ruled India for 100 years, what on earth did the East India Company do!”

The Conservative Party’s speaker Disraeli from that day immediately sang ‘this is all the company’s fault’ like a broken phonograph.

“We now suffered rebellion from soldiers who gave rice and lodged and even handed guns. The company that couldn’t even grasp dissatisfaction while things became this state must close the door immediately! And must thoroughly punish the rebels and firmly crush so cannot bare teeth at the British Empire again!”

“Right!!”

“Judgment to the rebels!!”

Who can object to having to suppress the rebellion?

But East India Company executives who were about to be branded as the world’s idiots who messed up company operation and even ruined India ruling were anxious.

“Is Lord Dalhousie from the East India Company anywhere? Has he even worked in India?”

“The government arbitrarily sat him as governor general and president!”

“While we managed India everyone was happy! The incident occurred from the government intervening in the company’s domain!”

“If a company person who rose from the bottom with residual bones such a thing would absolutely not have occurred! Lord Dalhousie’s rule was nothing but idealistic and foolish behavior like flowers stuck in the head!”

“His oppressive policies are the starting point of all problems!”

How long waited.

Finally reporters began coming to find me.

“Representative Lee! Heard you warned the risk of large-scale rebellion in India from before!”

“Belatedly the warnings Representative Lee wrote are being talked about again!”

“Member Gladstone pointed ‘Lord Dalhousie’s oppressive policies are the cause of the problem’, but excuse me seems a bit different from the warning Representative Lee gave. Can leave one comment?”

“Heum. Good.”

I confirmed whether the reporters finished preparing to take my words then opened the mouth.

“Lord Dalhousie caused the rebellion because he is a hypocrite.”

“Very... aggressive and insulting.”

“Yes. No thought of withdrawing. His policies were hypocritical.

We ruled and exploited India. Let’s not say embarrassing sounds like brought civilization to India or whatever. You reporters too if saying pay 50% tax will pack guns or bombs?”

Collecting 50% tax and smashing all fine jobs then making plantations and saying civilization propagation modernization or whatever deserve to die.

But the problem is always next.

“I like Member Gladstone my sponsor value morality and ethics. But if saying stop exploitation of India instead all British people must pay 10% more income tax there will be very many people who will just say continue exploiting. Right?”

Reporters did not answer but smiled. Isn’t that natural. How many people will pay 10% more tax for Indians.

“If exploiting like this at least must accept about being hated by Indians. If asking why those don’t worship us and hate that’s just definitely a madman.

If wanting to proselytize Christianity to Indians and gift Western civilization stop the exploitation. If wanting to receive respect from them not extorting but must make them full. Wanting to inform even Jesus while exploiting. Greed is a bit excessive.”

“So Representative Lee’s position is must not proselytize in India?”

“No. I respect and admire missionaries’ dedication and efforts. But a mere industrialist like me fine, but if a governor general who took responsibility for managing India think must of course have the cool judgment needed for his duties.

Surely not going to testify in the parliament ‘didn’t know rebellion would occur trying to change even religion while tearing taxes and land and jobs from Indians!’?”

Honestly afraid what Gladstone will say seeing this interview.

But certain is, this interview will be a very fatal blow to Dalhousie.

This is all the end a 19th century person who did not understand cultural relativism meets. Don’t blame me!

- If a 21st century person that... must say colonial rule is bad?

Here is the British Empire?

If saying such words will really work.

***

The East India Company army is largely divided into 4 according to region.

Bengal army.

Madras army.

Bombay army.

And the recently newly established Chosen army.

Truly ten thousand fortunate for the East India Company and the governor general’s office, other armies except the Bengal army did not greatly deviate despite this endless flame of rebellion.

India is too huge so cannot lump into one.

The sepoys who captured Delhi declared the revival of the Mughal Empire that remained only a shell like the Han of the Three Kingdoms, and enthroned the Mughal emperor who was confined in a corner of Delhi as leader.

Because the rebellion itself was accidental they needed a plausible banner to continue the rebellion and confront British colonial rule, but the signboard <​Mughal Empire> was not an attractive slogan for all Indians to unite against British rule.

“What? Said will revive the Mughal Empire?”

“Attach to the British side! Mughal is returning!!”

“Rather Britain better than those bastards coming above our heads again!”

From the beginning Mughal was a conquest dynasty. The name Mughal itself means Mongol.

They forced Islamic faith, and trampled those who resisted.

Since raised such Mughal’s banner, those who think Britain better than Mughal arising is a natural thing.

And Britain also moved very agilely.

“Input all troops to India!”

“If the rebellion lengthens the princely states might see the liver. Must smash from the beginning so they can clearly know which side attaching is advantageous to their person!”

British armies scattered in various places were pouring toward India like a tide.

Now hard to easily trust sepoys’ loyalty, the British army composed of British people is precisely the alpha and omega of rebellion suppression.

And one more.

“Let’s go! To India!”

“To defeat the heretics who kill women and children!”

The Chosen army - Joseon sepoys who seem no concern of betrayal even if combat power unknown arrived in India before the British army.

The structure of Joseon sepoys was truly unique.

Said salary is tight but that is East India Company standard. To Joseon’s lower class a sufficiently ample amount.

Moreover the Joseon court intended to absorb retired sepoys as is into the Joseon army, so to officers and soldiers who agreed to the clause <​when East India Company army service ends enlist in the Joseon army> the Joseon court paid a bit but additional salary. If eating even this no matter to envy others.

Moreover their worldview also had a bit... very slightly different points from ordinary Europeans’ worldview.

“Since the superior country highly evaluates our Joseon soldiers and requests reinforcements how can a Joseon man who knows benevolence righteousness propriety wisdom stay still!”

“Indians are foolish and uncivilized even Buddha gave up enlightening, said after killing and expelling all monks who served Buddha served cows and pigs as gods.”

“The superior country tried to soothe these well and help escape the path of beasts, but there is a severe custom of burning widows who lost husbands alive so prohibited saying must not do this then reached raising rebellion. Are there such barbaric seeds in the world?!”

“Just listening Indians are things closer to beasts or goblins than people!”

“Of course. No way people. Obviously ghosts or monsters pretending to be people. For exorcising such guys from old times firearms that supplement yang energy are the best?”

Like that a full over 20,000 Joseon sepoys boarded urgently requisitioned transport ships and were input into that distant Indian land.

An enormous scale far exceeding the number mobilized in the last Far East war!

From the king to beggars, there was no one who did not thrill seeing this enormous number of army and no one who doubted Joseon is a great power.

“My sons! Go and win! Show those who do not know the Way that the strongest army has come!”

Heonjong’s heart was like a chimney wanting to send this army to the Manchurian plains immediately and stack a tower with Jurchen heads like Taejo Yi Seonggye rather than sending to India, but if waging war with China with mere 20,000 from that day this country becomes Qing’s Joseon province is a story obvious as seeing fire. He was extremely cool.

However there was a point the Joseon king and high officials did not think.

“Kyaaak!!”

“The enemy is too strong!”

“Monster! Monster is running!!”

“Allahu Akbar!!!”

The Joseon army was originally weak.

No matter wearing British-style military uniforms and holding British rifles K-DNA could not change overnight into Anglo-Saxon’s ferocious combat instinct.

The country called Joseon originally had the tradition of despising science and revering literature. Not for nothing these prospered in cultural business with K-pop and K-whatever in the 21st century.

Celebs who recite their own unique melodies, drag countless fandoms who follow them and ride special vehicles. In the past called these celebs ‘sages’ and in the 21st century call idols only different from the beginning this country had no great connection with war. Not for nothing Baekbeom Kim Gu said do cultural victory not conquest victory.

Daniel Lee who returned after fierce bloody battle over the problem of who has command authority and the Chosen army command staff all held their heads seeing the Chosen army’s appearance already retreating everywhere.

The East India Company’s blade tip that washed blood with blood for decades, the Bengal army and the Chosen army with no combat experience whatsoever fought in India so truly a natural conclusion?

They reached a quick conclusion.

“Let’s try using Gatling once.”

Drurururuk!!

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