Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Diplomatic Activity

Arriving at Earl’s Court was early afternoon.

The exterior of the legation itself was ordinary. A 4-story building finished with white stone.

Because there were so many identically shaped buildings in Earl’s Court there was nothing special.

But even though I knew the address of the legation I had to go around this area several times. Even asking people passing around they all only said they didn't know so I almost got lost again.

The reason I couldn't find the location was simple.

"No... Why did they hang the signboard so small?!"

Even commercial district signboards would be bigger than this!

Usually if having some money they installed copper plates at the entrance or roadside, and in cases where less formality is needed there were also many cases of making with wood plates, but they grow the size so one can sufficiently recognize.

However the Joseon legation signboard installed here was merely at the level of a simple sign.

Was there no money to even produce a wood plate? Or did the city authorities not give permission for signboard installation?

But it's strictly a diplomatic legation building of another country, does it make sense they didn't give permission for signboard installation?!

Probably the former possibility was very high.

While saying legation there was no guard or front gate guard post so something seemed strange, but when actually entering the building it was just an ordinary middle-class mansion.

Mansion. A multi-household building where several households rent and live.

And that the Joseon legation was merely at the level of borrowing a few rooms in the corner of the mansion.

In modern terms it was the same as placing a few offices in an officetel building and pretending to be diplomats.

Clearly the French or British diplomat buildings in Joseon I went to see in modern times seemed built very grandly in baroque style...

This was too shabby no matter what. So no one knows there's a Joseon legation here.

However reality was reality.

I briefly hesitated in front of the door in the corridor. Coming inside they did mark largely in the corridor with paint letters.

[ The Korean Legation in London - Korean Empire Legation in Britain, Minister Min Young-don. We welcome visits from Joseon compatriots ]

How long has it been since seeing Hangul on earth.

But certainly because the era is the era, it wasn't the neat regular script print letters seen in modern times. From the traces of palace script as if scrawled by hand a sense of incongruity as if going back in time was strongly felt.

Standing like that for a short time, a presence was heard from inside and the door carefully opened.

"Who are you? For what matter did you visit?"

Very clumsy and stiff pronunciation English.

The man who spoke was an Asian with a short mustache, dark face.

Height much smaller than me, and hair also awkwardly parted.

The clothes he was wearing were suits commonly seen in London, but whether ready-made clothes obtained at the market shoulders and sleeves didn't fit the body so even looked shabby.

This person, is the Joseon diplomat stationed in London now?! My ancestor from the past?

Somehow an uncomfortable emotion slowly surged.

Of course from history learned in the past I well knew that Joseon of this era was merely a small country on the eastern periphery, forcibly opened ports and diplomatically ignored, and a precarious situation right before the country was taken by Japan.

But I didn't expect it to be this shabby.

Although living long in London, certainly my identity or emotional roots were in Korea. If such roots are ignored the feeling isn't very good.

This is like the feeling of watching the home team one was cheering not even advancing to the main round and after 20 consecutive losses being relegated to the 3rd division league.

But one can't switch the home team either. I deeply sighed inside.

"I'm Jean-Paul Durand."

"Jean-Paul Durand? A name I've heard a lot somewhere... Wait, Jean-Paul Durand?!"

Somehow the fame of my name seemed to have spread up to here. So I decided to give him a little help.

"I'm a chef. I created a few dishes. Like Chicken and Chips..."

"Ah, I remembered! But are you really that Jean-Paul Durand? By any chance if you have something like a business card..."

He doesn't believe. This reaction is a bit peculiar? Just looking at this it was certainly felt that this person is a stranger completely detached from London society.

Usually if becoming an influencer in one field in London, not only the name spreads but other information like appearance or looks also spread together.

That way even if meeting on the street one can recognize. Because there's no video media and photos are also blurry times.

Mr. Holmes writing his own name like a business card and carrying it around was also roughly the same context. In a situation of uncertainty, the moment revealing the name the identity is clearly revealed like taking off a mask and giving a strong impression that way.

In my case, eye color, hair color of course and being tall, or thin, or good fit, or applying pomade to hair and not wearing hats well, or liking navy clothes, or quite handsome such were mainly information flowing among people. If going further from here speech or voice tone also enters.

So not immediately recognizing it's me just hearing my name, in the end meant he couldn't chatter with anyone around. He would have barely picked up with eavesdropping the words people say on the street.

So I just took out one business card from the wallet and handed it to him.

[ Electric & Imperial Spreadworks. Director, Jean-Paul Durand. ]

Only then he reacted greatly.

"E-Electric & Imperial Spreadworks! The company that makes the rumored peanut butter? Moreover director?! Hueok!"

Where on earth did this person misunderstand?

Asking further was now bothersome.

"Is it okay to go in? My legs are a bit tired."

I was a bit tired from wandering all day at the pizza festival site.

"O-of course! Please come this way! I'm Lee Han-eung the secretary of the Korean Empire! I very much welcome your visit!"

"Yes, thank you. Mr. Lee."

###

The inside of the Joseon legation was much simpler than thought.

There were no decorations to be found, and the only thing there was one very early form of the Taegeukgi hanging on the wall.

And that not neatly decorated putting in a frame, but the level of nailing cloth to the wall with nails and hanging.

Inside the legation there were only a few people including Secretary Lee Han-eung, and the only resident formal official seemed to be Mr. Lee Han-eung.

The rest people looked young in face, and the appearance of gathering in the corner room and glancing at me just looking was students, in this case it seemed reasonable to see as international students.

The suits they were wearing also something one by one combinations mismatched so the look of not being used to British life was severe. No, wearing clothes like that and no one pointed it out?! Just teased inside?

There was also one young woman, only she uniquely wore a hanbok of white jeogori and black skirt so stood out.

A person who came attached from Joseon to help with housework. Those yangban international student lords over there all looked like they wouldn't get even one drop of water on their hands.

"Originally the minister to Britain should be here, but now he's on a business trip..."

Then does that mean the diplomats here including the minister are only two people?! Even if the environment is poor it's too poor? What diplomacy do they do with two people?!

Tap.

The woman wearing hanbok put one cup of tea in front of me. Tea with bluish water color.

"It's green tea. Our Joseon's specialty."

He doesn't say Korean Empire? Certainly this point he seemed to have shown a little consideration. Because in Britain even if understanding the word Joseon if saying Korean Empire half the people don't know.

Usually if changing the national title they do large-scale propaganda and ask to correct all diplomatic documents, but Joseon had no money for that so in Europe the name Joseon was still commonly used. In a word, the Korean Empire was a country with no recognition.

"The aroma is good. Thank you."

My words were just a greeting. A person who doesn't even drink black tea or coffee, drinking tea brewed with green tea leaves I don't know how made in this era is a bit...

If a diplomat it would be rude but I'm not a diplomat.

"By the way, for what purpose from that famous company you visited our legation... By any chance is it a matter related to investment...?"

Even while speaking the voice was somehow without conviction.

The operating purpose of this legation would have included not only various diplomatic work and collecting local information, but also managing international students and attracting investment.

Usually they also take charge of communication with the compatriot community, but while living I've never once heard the talk that Joseon people live in Britain let alone America.

Looking like that it wouldn't be strange to see that the Joseon people residing in Britain are all these people at this place now.

But then it's really minor among minor. Who would rush saying they'll invest in Joseon seeing this appearance? Unless a scammer. No, even scammers would go to Chinese or Japanese embassies and not come here because they don't know.

And the secretary's reaction was the voice of a person who clearly realized such reality. The reaction of a person with no hope left at all.

Instead of answering I looked around this shabby legation once.

The building is fine but nothing is filled. Just renting this place would have used most of the given budget.

In the past I also had the thought of if there's even a pro-Japanese faction let's dispose, but it was an idle thought. It wasn't an environment one could do pro-Japanese or anything.

In fact while riding the carriage up to here, I did hurriedly set up a few response plans inside.

A sudden visit of a person with no connection, no relation, no reason. Anyone sees it's strange. One has to prepare an excuse. What to say.

In fact originally I didn't even have the thought of visiting here, but because the fortune teller said strange things for nothing I came impulsively.

In such a situation one shouldn't rashly try to do something. Today let's just be satisfied with making one short string of connection.

"Investment? Ah, for now today I came for preliminary investigation. Depending on the investigation result the investment decision might also change."

When saying like this his face suddenly brightened. An expression of joy no matter who sees. No, from what point on earth?!

"Is that so? If there's a point you're curious about I'll help with anything. In our Joseon agricultural and marine products and silk, cotton are main specialties. Especially beans produced in northern Joseon are very good quality so popular even in Japan and China. How about Joseon ginseng? It's an expensive medicinal herb used for fatigue recovery and vitality enhancement in the East. If properly introduced to the West you can obtain big profits. Since you're a famous chef and operating the most popular food company in Britain, if by any chance you're interested in importing our Joseon's agricultural and marine products..."

Aha, he wants to widen the distribution path of ginseng? Did he think if I a famous person in London take interest good results will come out?

But I had no particular interest in ginseng. Such things even if imported don't sell unless some eccentric interested in Eastern traditional medicine.

But beans, if soybeans growing in the Hamgyong Province area the talk was different.

Even to properly do Korean food there were too many things one can't do without soybeans! One can't keep airlifting from the point shop forever, and the situation of needing to establish plausibility was coming.

Instead I turned my gaze to the international students gathered in the corner room.

Because the time was the time, it seemed they were about to have dinner. The table was modest. Rice is hard to obtain so substitute with bread, and vegetable side dishes eaten Joseon style changed to leaf vegetables for salad like butterhead.

But they also as Joseon people didn't just eat. Even that famous miser Jarinhgobi didn't eat only plain rice but said he always dipped at least soy sauce.

Here also seemed the same.

My gaze headed to the small dish placed in the middle of the table.

"What is that?"

"Yes? That? Ah, it's something like jam made with beans... To British gentlemen the taste and aroma might not match much..."

"Can I taste?"

"Yes? That?"

"Yes, it looks amazing."

Soon one bowl was set in front of me. Differently from the modest plates placed in front of the international students, a bowl filled full enough to scoop and eat as much as one wants several times.

It also seemed whether overdoing with a poor household.

"I'm very worried it might not suit your taste... Since the teacher specially requested, if considering the point of showing I'd be grateful."

Lee Han-eung still had an uneasy expression. Somehow it seemed he had a history of suffering a few times introducing this food to the West.

What is this? It was gochujang. These people, were going to spread gochujang on bread and eat!

Because they can't eat kimchi they were trying to soothe homesickness even in this way?

Although ancestors, it was a choice befitting Koreans as expected!

"It looks very fresh. Surely did you bring it directly from Joseon?"

From Joseon to Britain by ship takes over a month, no matter how well gochujang is stored, it would be hard to bring in such good condition.

Even if bringing in meju state it seems it would all spoil on the humid ship?

"No. Fortunately there are ingredients one can obtain cheaply locally... I somehow recreated. But compared to what eaten in Joseon it's certainly not great."

Not great? Isn't the standard too high? In this era this level is very excellent gochujang?

"Teacher, you have to be careful. Because it's really stimulating! Very spicy!"

But I was calm. That is, if not eating handmade gochujang made directly by hand in this era now when will I eat?

I scooped a full spoon and brought it to my mouth.

"Hmmm..."

"How is it?!"

"Cough, cough!"

"A-are you okay!"

Ah, it was really stimulating! Because the body isn't used to it I almost spit it out, and tears also welled up, but this spicy yet sweet taste absolutely can't be discarded!

What and how did they do that such taste comes out?! I also tried to make meju but failed all because I didn't know the know-how?

So I hurriedly shouted.

"20 gold coins! I'll buy this manufacturing secret for 20 gold coins!"

"Gold coins? Then... 20, 20 pounds?! Hueok! Such a large sum!"

There was no problem. The gold coins I won in the bet poker with His Majesty Edward VII were still sleeping as is in my bosom.

With that amount, wouldn't these people also live without money worries for a while?